NZ751574B2 - Methods And Compositions For Increasing Efficiency Of Targeted Gene Modification Using Oligonucleotide-Mediated Gene Repair - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides to improved methods for the modification of genes in plant cells, and plants and seeds derived therefrom. More specifically, the invention relates to the increased efficiency of targeted gene mutation by combining gene repair oligonucleotides with approaches that enhance the availability of components of the target cell gene repair mechanisms. In particular, the invention provides a method for introducing a gene repair oligonucleobase (GRON)-mediated mutation into a target DNA sequence in a plant cell, comprising delivery of a GRON and a composition comprising a bleomycin-type antibiotic or meganuclease which induce single stranded or double stranded breaks into a plant cell. The GRON hybridizes at the target DNA sequence to create a mismatched base-pair(s), which acts as a signal to attract the cell's gene repair system to the site where the mismatched base-pair(s) is created, and is degraded after designated nucleotide(s) within the target DNA sequence is corrected by the cell's gene repair system such that the plant cell introduces the GRON-mediated mutation into the target DNA sequence and the plant cell is non-transgenic following the introduction. The GRON comprises one or more alterations from conventional RNA and DNA nucleotides at the 5' or 3' end. availability of components of the target cell gene repair mechanisms. In particular, the invention provides a method for introducing a gene repair oligonucleobase (GRON)-mediated mutation into a target DNA sequence in a plant cell, comprising delivery of a GRON and a composition comprising a bleomycin-type antibiotic or meganuclease which induce single stranded or double stranded breaks into a plant cell. The GRON hybridizes at the target DNA sequence to create a mismatched base-pair(s), which acts as a signal to attract the cell's gene repair system to the site where the mismatched base-pair(s) is created, and is degraded after designated nucleotide(s) within the target DNA sequence is corrected by the cell's gene repair system such that the plant cell introduces the GRON-mediated mutation into the target DNA sequence and the plant cell is non-transgenic following the introduction. The GRON comprises one or more alterations from conventional RNA and DNA nucleotides at the 5' or 3' end.

Description

(12) Granted patent specificaon (19) NZ (11) 751574 (13) B2 (47) Publicaon date: 2021.12.24 (54) Methods And Composions For Increasing Efficiency Of Targeted Gene Modificaon Using Oligonucleode-Mediated Gene Repair (51) Internaonal Patent Classificaon(s): A01H 1/00 A01H 5/00 (22) Filing date: (73) Owner(s): 3.14 CIBUS US LLC CIBUS EUROPE B.V. (23) Complete specificaon filing date: 2014.03.14 (74) Contact: Wrays Pty Ltd (62) Divided out of 711145 (72) Inventor(s): (30) Internaonal Priority Data: E, Christian US 61/801,333 2013.03.15 SAUER, Noel, Joy PEARCE, James SEGAMI, Rosa, E.

MOZORUK, Jerry GOCAL, Gregory, F.w.

BEETHAM, Peter, R. (57) Abstract: The invenon provides to improved methods for the modificaon of genes in plant cells, and plants and seeds derived therefrom. More specifically, the invenon s to the increased efficiency of targeted gene mutaon by combining gene repair oligonucleodes with approaches that enhance the availability of components of the target cell gene repair mechanisms. In parcular, the invenon provides a method for introducing a gene repair oligonucleobase (GRON)- ed n into a target DNA sequence in a plant cell, comprising ry of a GRON and a ion comprising a bleomycin-type anbioc or meganuclease which induce single stranded or double stranded breaks into a plant cell. The GRON hybridizes at the target DNA sequence to create a mismatched base-pair(s), which acts as a signal to aract the cell's gene repair system to the site where the ched base-pair(s) is created, and is degraded aer 751574 B2 designated nucleode(s) within the target DNA sequence is corrected by the cell's gene repair system such that the plant cell introduces the GRON-mediated mutaon into the target DNA sequence and the plant cell is ansgenic following the introducon. The GRON comprises one or more alteraons from convenonal RNA and DNA nucleodes at the 5' or 3' end.

METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS FOR INCREASING ENCY OF TARGETED GENE MODIFICATION USING OLIGONUCLEOTIDE—lVIEDIATED GENE REPAIR The present application claims priority to US. Provisional Patent Application 61/801,333 filed March 15, 2013, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE ION This invention generally relates to novel methods to e the efficiency of the targeting of modifications to specific locations in genomic or other nucleotide sequences.

Additionally, this invention s to target DNA that has been modified, mutated or marked by the approaches disclosed . The invention also relates to cells, tissue, and organisms which have been modified by the invention’s methods.

OUND OF THE INVENTION The following discussion of the background of the invention is merely provided to aid the reader in understanding the ion and is not admitted to describe or tute prior art to the present ion.

The modification of genomic DNA is central to advances in biotechnology, in general, and biotechnologically based medical advances, in ular. Efficient methods for site- directed genomic modifications are desirable for research and possibly for gene y applications. One approach utilizes triplex-forming oligonucleotides (TFO) which bind as third strands to duplex DNA in a sequence—specific manner, to mediate directed mutagenesis.

Such TFO can act either by delivering a tethered mutagen, such as psoralen or chlorambucil (Havre et al., Proc Nat'l Acad Sci, USA. 90:7879—7883, 1993; Havre et al., J Virol 6727323~ 7331, 1993; Wang et al., Mol Cell Biol 15: 1759—1768, 1995; Takasugi et al., Proc Nat'l Acad Sci, USA. 88:5602-5606, 1991; Belouscv et al., Nucleic Acids Res 25:3440—3444, 1997), or by binding with sufficient affinity to provoke error—prone repair (Wang et al., Science 271 2802—805, 1996).

Another strategy for genomic ation involves the induction of homologous recombination between an exogenous DNA fragment and the targeted gene. This approach has been used successfully to target and disrupt selected genes in mammalian cells and has enabled the production of transgenic mice carrying c gene knockouts (Capeechi et al., Science 244: 1288—1292, 1989; US. Pat. No. 4,873,191 to Wagner). This approach, however, relies on the transfer of selectable markers to allow PCTfUSZOl4/029566 isolation of the desired recombinants. Without selection, the ratio of homologous to non— homologous integration of transfected DNA in typical gene transfer experiments is low, y in the range of 1:1000 or less (Sedivy et al., Gene Targeting, W. H. Freeman and Co., New York, 1992). This low efficiency of homologous integration limits the utility of gene transfer for experimental use or gene therapy. The frequency of homologous recombination can be enhanced by damage to the target site from UV irradiation and selected carcinogens (Wang et al., Mol Cell Biol 8:196~202, 1988) as well as by site— specific endonucleases (Sedivy et a1, Gene Targeting, W. H. Freeman and Co., New York, 1992; Rouet et al., Proc Nat’l Acad Sci, U.S.A. 91:6064-6068, 1994; Segal et al., Proc Nat’l Acad Sci, U.S.A. 92:806—810, 1995). In addition, DNA damage induced by triplex—directed psoralen photoadducts can stimulate recombination within and between extrachromosomal s (Segal et al., Proc Nat’l Acad Sci, U.S.A. 92:806—810, 1995; Faruqi et al., Mol Cell Biol 16:6820-6828, 1996; US Pat. No. 5,962,426 to Glazer).

Other work has helped to define parameters that influence recombination in mammalian cells. In general, linear donor nts are more inogenic than their circular counterparts (Folger et al., Mol Cell Biol 2: 1372—1387, 1982). Recombination is also influenced by the length of uninterrupted homology between both the donor and target sites, with short nts appearing to be ineffective substrates for recombination (Rubnitz eta1., Mol Cell Biol 422253-2258, 1984). Nonetheless, several recent s have focused on the use of short fragments of DNA or A hybrids for gene tion. (Kunzelmann et al., Gene Ther 3:859—867, 1996).

The sequence—specific binding properties of TFO have been used to deliver a series of different molecules to target sites in DNA. For example, a diagnostic method for ing triplex interactions utilized TFO coupled to Fe—EDTA, a DNA cleaving agent (Moser et al., Science 5-650, 1987). Others have linked ically active enzymes like micrococcal nuclease and streptococcal nuclease to TFO and demonstrated site—specific cleavage of DNA (Pei et al., Proc Nat’l Acad Sci U.S.A. 87:9858-9862, 1990; Landgraf et al., Biochemistry 3311060740615, 1994). Furthermore, site~directed DNA damage and mutagenesis can be ed using TFO conjugated to either psoralen (Havre et al., Proc Nat’l Acad Sci U.S.A. 90:7879—7883, 1993; Takasurgi et al., Proc Nat’l Acad Sci U.S.A. 88:5602—5606, 1991) or alkylating agents (Belousov eta1., Nucleic Acids Res 25:3440-3444, 1997; Posvic et al., 1 Am Chem Soc 112:9428-9430, 1990). 2014/029566 WIPO Patent Application WO/2001/025460 describes methods for mutating a target DNA sequence of a plant that include the steps of (l) electroporating into a microspore of the plant a recombinagenic oligonucleobase that contains a first homologous region that has a sequence identical to the sequence of at least 6 base pairs of a first fragment of the target DNA sequence and a second homologous region which has a sequence identical to the sequence of at least 6 base pairs of a second fragment of the target DNA sequence, and an intervening region which contains at least 1 nucleobase logous to the target DNA sequence, which intervening region connects the first homologous region and the second homologous region; (2) culturing the microspore to produce an ; and (3) producing from the embryo a plant having a mutation d between the first and second fragments of the target DNA ce, e. g., by culturing the microspore to produce a somatic embryo and regenerating the plant from the embryo. In various embodiments of the invention, the recombinagenic oligonucleobase is an MDON and each of the homologous regions contains an RNA segment of at least 6 RNA-type nucleotides; the intervening region is at least 3 nucleotides in ; the first and or second RNA segment contains at least 8 uous 2'—substituted cleotides.

One of the major goals of ical research is the targeted modification of the genome. As noted above, although methods for delivery of genes into mammalian cells are well developed, the frequency of modification and/or homologous recombination is limited (Hanson et al., Mol Cell Biol 15:45—51 1995). As a result, the modification of genes is a time consuming process. Numerous s have been contemplated or attempted to enhance modification and/or recombination between donor and c DNA. However, the present techniques often exhibit low rates of modification and/or recombination, or inconsistency in the modification and/or recombination rate, thereby hampering research and gene therapy technology‘ SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention es novel methods and compositions for improving the efficiency of the targeting of modifications to specific locations in genomic or other nucleotide sequences. As described hereinafter, nucleic acids which direct specific changes to the genome may be combined with various ches to enhance the availability of components of the natural repair s present in the cells being targeted for modification.

ZOI4/029566 In a first aspect, the invention relates to methods for ucing a gene repair oiigonucieohase (CiRONimediated mutation into a target deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequence in a plant cell. The methods comprise, inter alia, culturing the plant cell under conditions that increase one or more cellular DNA repair processes prior to, and/or coincident with, delivery of a GRON into the plant cell; and/or delivery of a GRON into the plant cell greater than 55 bases in length, the GRON optionally comprising two or more mutation sites for introduction into the target DNA.

In certain embodiments, the conditions that increase one or more cellular DNA repair processes comprise one or more of: introduction of one or more sites into the GRON or into the plant cell DNA that are s for base excision repair, introduction of one or more sites into the GRON or into the plant cell DNA that are s for non gous end joining, introduction of one or more sites into the GRON or into the plant cell DNA that are targets for microhomology-mediated end g, introduction of one or more sites into the GRON or into the plant cell DNA that are targets for homologous recombination, and uction of one or more sites into the GRON or into the plant cell DNA that are targets for pushing repair.

As described hereinafter, GRONS for use in the present invention can comprises one or more of the following alterations from conventional RNA and DNA nucleotides: one or more abasic nucleotides; one or more 8’oxo dA and/or 8’oxo dG nucleotides; a reverse base at the 3’ end thereof; one or more 2’O—n1ethyl nucleotides; one or more Z’O—methyl RNA nucleotides at the 5’ end thereof, and preferably 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or more; an intercalating dye; a 5’ terminus cap; a backbone modification selected from the group consisting of a othioate modification, a methyl phosphonate modification, a locked nucleic acid (LNA) modification, a O -(2—methoxyethyl) (MOE) modification, a di PS modification, and a peptide nucleic acid (PNA) modification; one or more intrastrand crosslinks; one or more fluorescent dyes conjugated thereto, prefereably at the 5’ or 3’ end of the GRON; and one or more bases which increase hybridization . This list is not meant to be limiting.

As described hereinafter, in certain embodiments GRON y and conversion efficiency may be improved by sizing all or a n of the GRON using nucleotide multimers, such as dimers, trimers, tetramers, etc improving its .

In certain embodiments, the target deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequence is within the plant cell . The plant cell may be ansgenic or transgenic, and the target DNA sequence may be a transgene or an endogenous gene of the plant cell.

In certain embodiments, the conditions that increase one or more cellular DNA repair processes comprise introducing one or more compounds which induce single or double DNA strand breaks into the plant cell prior to or coincident with delivering the GRON into the plant cell. Exemplary compounds are described hereinafter.

The methods and compositions described herein are applicable to plants generally. By way of example only, a plant species may be ed from the group consisting of canola, sunflower, corn, tobacco, sugar beet, cotton, maize, wheat, , rice, alfafa, barley, sorghum, tomato, mango, peach, apple, pear, strawberry, banana, melon, potato, carrot, lettuce, onion, soy bean, soya spp, sugar cane, pea, chickpea, field pea, faba bean, lentils, turnip, rutabaga, brussel sprouts, lupin, cauliflower, kale, field beans, poplar, pine, eucalyptus, grape, citrus, triticale, alfalfa, rye, oats, turf and forage grasses, flax, d rape, d, cucumber, morning glory, balsam, pepper, eggplant, marigold, lotus, cabbage, daisy, carnation, tulip, iris, and lily. These may also apply in whole or in part to all other biological systems including but not limited to bacteria, fungi and mammalian cells and even their organelles (e.g., mitochondria and chloroplasts).

In ce1tain embodiments, the methods further comprise regenerating a plant having a mutation introduced by the GRON from the plant cell, and may comprise collecting seeds fi‘om the plant.

In d aspects, the present invention relates to plant cells comprising a c modification introduced by a GRON according to the methods described herein, a plant comprising a genomic modification introduced by a GRON according to the methods bed herein, or a seed comprising a genomic modification introduced by a GRON according to the methods described herein.

Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, exemplary embodiments, and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 depicts BFP to GFP conversion mediated by phosphothioate (PS) labeled GRONs (having 3 PS moieties at each end of the GRON) and 5'Cy3/ 3'idC d GRONs.

Fig. 2 s GRONs comprising RNA/DNA, referred to herein as "Okazaki Fragment GRONS." [0022a] Fig 3 depicts the native complex and the chimera reproduced from Cong et al., (2013) Science, Vol. 339 (6120), pp 819-823. [0022b] Fig 4 depicts a schematic of the expression vector for chimeric chNA.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ION Developed over the past few years, targeted genetic modification mediated by oligonucleotides has been shown to be a valuable technique for use in the specific alteration of short stretches ofDNA to create deletions, short insertions, and point mutations. These methods involve DNA pairing/annealing, followed by a DNA repair/recombination event.

First, the c acid anneals with its complementary strand in the double-stranded DNA in a process mediated by cellular protein factors. This annealing creates a lly located mismatched base pair (in the case of a point mutation), resulting in a structural perturbation that most likely ates the endogenous protein ery to initiate the second step in the repair process: site—specific modification of the chromosomal sequence and even their organelles (e.g., mitochondria and chloroplasts). This newly introduced mismatch induces the DNA repair machinery to perform a second repair event, leading to the final revision of the target site. The t methods improve these methods by providing novel ches which increase the WO 44951 ZOl4/029566 availability of DNA repair components, thus increasing the efficiency and ucibility of gene repair-mediated modifications to targeted nucleic acids.

Definitions To facilitate understanding of the invention, a number of terms are defined below. ic acid sequence,9? CCnucleotide sequence” and “polynucleotide sequence” as used herein refer to an oligonucleotide or cleotide, and fragments or ns thereof, and to DNA or RNA of c or synthetic origin which may be single— or double—stranded, and represent the sense or antisense strand.

As used herein, the terms “oligonucleotides” and “oligomers” refer to a nucleic acid sequence of at least about 10 tides and as many as about 201 nucleotides, preferably about 15 to 30 nucleotides, and more preferably about 20-25 nucleotides, which can be used as a probe or amplimer.

The terms “DNA-modifying molecule” and “DNA—modifying reagent” as used herein refer to a le which is capable of izing and specifically binding to a nucleic acid sequence in the genome of a cell, and which is capable of modifying a target nucleotide sequence within the genome, wherein the recognition and specific g of the DNA~modifying molecule to the nucleic acid sequence is protein—independent. The term “protein—independent” as used herein in connection with a DNA—modifying molecule means that the DNA—modifying molecule does not require the presence and/or activity of a protein and/or enzyme for the recognition of, and/or specific binding to, a nucleic acid sequence. DNA—modifying molecules are exemplified, but not limited to triplex g oligonucleotides, peptide nucleic acids, polyamides, and oligonucleotides which are intended to e gene conversion. The DNA-modifying molecules of the invention are distinguished from the prior art‘s nucleic acid sequences which are used for homologous recombination [Wong & Capecchi, Molec. Cell. Biol. 72294-2295, 1987] in that the prior art's nucleic acid sequences which are used for homologous recombination are protein—dependent. The term “protein—dependent” as used herein in connection with a molecule means that the molecule requires the presence and/or activity of a protein and/or enzyme for the recognition of, and/or specific binding of the molecule to, a nucleic acid sequence. Methods for determining whether a DNA—modifying le requires the presence and/or activity of a protein and/or enzyme for the recognition of, and/or specific PCT/U82014/029566 binding to, a nucleic acid sequence are within the skill in the art [see, e. g., Dennis et al.

Nucl. Acids Res. 27:4734—4742, 1999]. For example, the DNA~modifying molecule may be incubated in vitro with the nucleic acid sequence in the absence of any proteins and/or enzymes. The detection of specific binding between the DNA—modifying le and the c acid ce demonstrates that the DNA-modifying molecule is protein— independent. On the other hand, the absence of specific binding between the DNA— modifying molecule and the nucleic acid sequence demonstrates that the DNA—modifying molecule is protein—dependent and/0r requires additional factors.

“Triplex g oligonucleotide” (TFO) is d as a ce of DNA or RNA that is capable of binding in the major grove of a duplex DNA or RNA helix to form a triple helix. Although the TFO is not limited to any particular length, a preferred length of the TFO is 200 nucleotides or less, more preferably 100 nucleotides or less, yet more preferably from 5 to 50 nucleotides, even more preferably from 10 to 25 nucleotides, and most preferably from 15 to 25 nucleotides. Although a degree of sequence specificity between the TFO and the duplex DNA is necessary for formation of the triple helix, no particular degree of specificity is required, as long as the triple helix is e of forming. Likewise, no ic degree of avidity or affinity between the TF0 and the duplex helix is required as long as the triple helix is e of forming. While not intending to limit the length of the nucleotide sequence to which the TFO specifically binds in one embodiment, the nucleotide sequence to which the TFO specifically binds is from 1 to 100, more preferably from 5 to 50, yet more preferably from 10 to 25, and most preferably from 15 to 25, nucleotides. Additionally, “triple helix” is defined as a double— helical nucleic acid with an oligonucleotide bound to a target sequence within the double— helical nucleic acid. The “double—helical” nucleic acid can be any double—stranded c acid including double-stranded DNA, double~stranded RNA and mixed es of DNA and RNA. The double—stranded nucleic acid is not limited to any particular length. However, in red embodiments it has a length of greater than 500 bp, more preferably greater than 1 kb and most preferably greater than about 5 kb. In many applications the double-helical nucleic acid is cellular, genomic nucleic acid. The triplex forming oligonucleotide may bind to the target sequence in a parallel or anti-parallel manner.

“Peptide Nucleic Acids,” “polyamides” or “PNA” are c acids wherein the phosphate backbone is replaced with an oethylglycine—based polyamide PCT/U82014/029566 structure. PNAs have a higher affinity for complementary nucleic acids than their natural counter parts following the Watson—Crick base—pairing rules. PNAs can form highly stable triple helix structures with DNA of the following stoichiometiy: (PNA)2.DNA.

Although the peptide nucleic acids and polyamides are not limited to any particular length, a preferred length of the peptide nucleic acids and polyamides is 200 tides or less, more preferably 100 nucleotides or less, and most preferably from 5 to 50 nucleotides long. While not intending to limit the length of the nucleotide sequence to which the peptide nucleic acid and ide specifically binds, in one embodiment, the tide sequence to which the peptide nucleic acid and polyamide specifically bind is from 1 to 100, more preferably from 5 to 50, yet more preferably from 5 to 25, and most preferably from 5 to 20, nucleotides.

The term “cell” refers to a single cell. The term “cells” refers to a population of cells. The population may be a pure tion comprising one cell type. Likewise, the population may comprise more than one cell type. In the present invention, there is no limit on the number of cell types that a cell tion may comprise.

The term “synchronize” or “synchronized,” when referring to a sample of cells, or “synchronized cells” or ronized cell population” refers to a ity of cells which have been treated to cause the population of cells to be in the same phase of the cell cycle. It is not necessary that all of the cells in the sample be synchronized. A small percentage of cells may not be synchronized with the majority of the cells in the sample. A preferred range of cells that are synchronized is between lO—lOO%. A more preferred range is between 30—100%. Also, it is not necessary that the cells be a pure population of a single cell type. More than one cell type may be contained in the sample.

In this regard, only one of cell types may be synchronized or may be in a ent phase of the cell cycle as compared to r cell type in the sample.

The term “synchronized cell” when made in reference to a single cell means that the cell has been manipulated such that it is at a cell cycle phase which is different from the cell cycle phase of the cell prior to the manipulation. Alternatively, a “synchronized cell” refers to a cell that has been manipulated to alter (i.e., increase or decrease) the duration of the cell cycle phase at which the cell was prior to the manipulation when compared to a control cell (e. g., a cell in the e of the manipulation).

PCT/U82014/029566 The term “cell cycle” refers to the physiological and morphological progression of changes that cells o when dividing (i.e. proliferating). The cell cycle is generally recognized to be composed of phases termed phase, 7) 6‘prophase,” hase,” “anaphase,” and “telophase”. Additionally, parts of the cell cycle may be termed “M (mitosis),” “S (synthesis),” “GO,” “Gl (gap 1)” and “G2 (gap2)”.

Furthermore, the cell cycle includes periods of progression that are intermediate to the above named phases.

The term “cell cycle inhibition” refers to the cessation of cell cycle progression in a cell or population of cells. Cell cycle tion is usually induced by exposure of the cells to an agent (chemical, proteinaceous or otherwise) that interferes with aspects of cell physiology to t continuation of the cell cycle.

“Proliferation” or “cell growth” refers to the ability of a parent cell to divide into two daughter cells repeatably thereby resulting in a total increase of cells in the population. The cell population may be in an organism or in a culture apparatus.

The term “capable of modifying DNA” or “DNA ing means” refers to procedures, as well as endogenous or exogenous agents or reagents that have the ability to induce, or can aid in the induction of, changes to the nucleotide sequence of a ed segment of DNA. Such changes may be made by the deletion, addition or substitution of one or more bases on the targeted DNA t. It is not necessary that the DNA sequence changes confer functional changes to any gene encoded by the targeted ce. Furthermore, it is not necessary that changes to the DNA be made to any ular portion or percentage of the cells.

The term “nucleotide sequence of interest” refers to any nucleotide sequence, the manipulation of which may be deemed desirable for any reason, by one of ordinary skill in the art. Such nucleotide sequences include, but are not limited to, coding sequences of structural genes (e. g., reporter genes, selection marker genes, oncogenes, drug resistance genes, growth factors, etc.), and non-coding tory sequences that do not encode an mRNA or protein product (e. g., promoter sequence, enhancer sequence, polyadenylation sequence, termination sequence, regulatory RNAs such as miRNA, etc.).

“Amino acid sequence,’9 (Epolypeptide sequence,39 ide sequence” and “peptide” are used interchangeably herein to refer to a sequence of amino acids.

“Target sequence,” as used herein, refers to a double—helical nucleic acid comprising a sequence ably greater than 8 nucleotides in length but less than 201 nucleotides in length. In some embodiments, the target ce is preferably between 8 to 30 bases. The target sequence, in general, is defined by the nucleotide sequence on one of the strands on the double~helical c acid.

As used herein, a “purine—rich ce” or “polypurine sequence” when made in reference to a nucleotide sequence on one of the strands of a double—helical nucleic acid sequence is defined as a uous sequence of nucleotides wherein greater than 50% of the nucleotides of the target sequence contain a purine base. However, it is preferred that the purine-rich target ce n greater than 60% purine nucleotides, more preferably greater than 75% purine nucleotides, next most preferably greater than 90% purine nucleotides and most preferably 100% purine nucleotides.

As used , a “pyrimidine—rich sequence” or “polypyrimidine sequence” when made in reference to a nucleotide sequence on one of the strands of a -helical nucleic acid sequence is defined as a contiguous sequence of nucleotides wherein greater that 50% of the nucleotides of the target sequence contain a pyrimidine base. However, it is preferred that the pyrimidine-rich target sequence contain greater than 60% dine nucleotides and more preferably greater than 75% pyrimidine nucleotides. In some embodiments, the sequence contains preferably greater than 90% dine nucleotides and, in other embodiments, is most ably 100% pyrimidine nucleotides.

A “variant” of a first nucleotide sequence is defined as a nucleotide sequence which differs from the first nucleotide sequence (e. g., by having one or more deletions, insertions, or substitutions that may be detected using hybridization assays or using DNA sequencing). ed within this definition is the detection of alterations or modifications to the genomic ce of the first nucleotide sequence. For example, hybridization assays may be used to detect (1) alterations in the pattern of restriction enzyme fragments capable of hybridizing to the first nucleotide sequence when comprised in a genome (i.e., RFLP analysis), (2) the inability of a selected portion of the first nucleotide sequence to hybridize to a sample of c DNA which contains the first nucleotide sequence (e. g., using allele—specific oligonucleotide probes), (3) improper or unexpected hybridization, such as hybridization to a locus other than the normal chromosomal locus for the first nucleotide sequence (e. g., using fluorescent in situ ZOl4/029566 hybridization (FISH) to metaphase chromosomes spreads, etc.). One example of a variant is a mutated wild type sequence.

The terms “nucleic acid” and “unmodified nucleic acid” as used herein refer to any one of the known four deoxyribonucleic acid bases (i.e., guanine, e, ne, and thymine). The term “modified nucleic acid” refers to a nucleic acid whose structure is altered ve to the structure of the unmodified nucleic acid. Illustrative of such modifications would be replacement covalent modifications of the bases, such as alkylation of amino and ring nitrogens as well as saturation of double bonds.

As used herein, the terms ion” and “modification” and grammatical equivalents thereof when used in reference to a nucleic acid sequence are used interchangeably to refer to a deletion, insertion, substitution, strand break, and/or introduction of an adduct. A “deletion” is defined as a change in a nucleic acid sequence in which one or more nucleotides is absent. An “insertion” or “addition” is that change in a nucleic acid sequence which has resulted in the on of one or more nucleotides. A “substitution” results from the replacement of one or more nucleotides by a molecule which is a different molecule from the replaced one or more nucleotides. For example, a nucleic acid may be replaced by a different nucleic acid as exemplified by replacement of a thymine by a cytosine, e, guanine, or uridine. Pyrimidine to pyrimidine (e. g. C to T or T to C nucleotide substitutions) or purine to purine (e.g. G to A or A to G nucleotide tutions) are termed transitions, whereas pyrimidine to purine or purine to pyrimidine (e. g. G to T or G to C or A to T or A to C) are termed transversions. Alternatively, a nucleic acid may be replaced by a ed nucleic acid as ified by replacement of a thymine by thymine glycol. Mutations may result in a mismatch. The term “mismatch” refers to a non-covalent ction between two nucleic acids, each nucleic acid residing on a different polynucleic acid sequence, which does not follow the base-pairing rules.

For example, for the partially complementary sequences 5’—AGT—3’ and —3’, a GA mismatch (a transition) is present. The terms “introduction of an adduct” or “adduct formation” refer to the covalent or valent e of a molecule to one or more nucleotides in a DNA sequence such that the linkage results in a reduction (preferably from 10% to 100%, more preferably from 50% to 100%, and most preferably from 75% to 100%) in the level of DNA replication and/or transcription.

The term “strand break” when made in reference to a double stranded nucleic acid sequence includes a single-strand break and/or a double-strand break. A single- WO 44951 PCT/USZOl4/029566 strand break (a nick) refers to an interruption in one of the two strands of the double stranded nucleic acid sequence. This is in contrast to a double-strand break which refers to an interruption in both strands of the double stranded nucleic acid sequence. Strand breaks may be introduced into a double stranded nucleic acid sequence either directly (e. g., by ionizing radiation or treatment with certain chemicals) or ctly (e.g., by enzymatic incision at a nucleic acid base).

The terms “mutant cell” and “modified cell” refer to a cell which contains at least one modification in the cell‘s genomic sequence.

The term “portion” when used in reference to a nucleotide sequence refers to nts of that nucleotide sequence. The fragments may range in size from 5 nucleotide residues to the entire nucleotide sequence minus one nucleic acid e.

DNA molecules are said to have “5’ ends” and “3’ ends” because cleotides are reacted to make oligonucleotides in a manner such that the 5’ phosphate of one mononucleotide pentose ring is attached to the 3’ oxygen of its or in one direction via a phosphodiester linkage. Therefore, an end of an oligonucleotide is referred to as the “5' end” if its 5’ phosphate is not linked to the 3’ oxygen of a mononucleotide e ring. An end of an oligonucleotide is referred to as the “3’ end” if its 3’ oxygen is not linked to a 5’ phosphate of another mononucleotide pentose ring.

As used herein, a nucleic acid sequence, even if internal to a larger oligonucleotide, also may be said to have 5’ and 3’ ends. In either a linear or circular DNA molecule, te elements are referred to as being “upstream” or 5’ of the tream” or 3’ elements.

This terminology reflects that transcription proceeds in a 5’ to 3’ direction along the DNA strand. The promoter and enhancer elements which direct transcription of a linked gene are generally located 5’ or upstream of the coding region. However, enhancer elements can exert their effect even when located 3’ of the promoter element and the coding .

Transcription termination and polyadenylation signals are located 3’ or downstream of the coding region.

The term “recombinant DNA molecule” as used herein refers to a DNA molecule which is sed of segments of DNA joined er by means of molecular biological techniques.

The term “recombinant protein” or “recombinant polypeptide” as used herein refers to a protein molecule which is expressed using a recombinant DNA molecule.

PCT/U82014/029566 As used herein, the terms “vector” and “vehicle” are used interchangeably in reference to nucleic acid molecules that transfer DNA segment(s) from one cell to another.

The terms “in le combination,’5 4"in operable order” and “operably linked” as used herein refer to the linkage of nucleic acid sequences in such a manner that a c acid molecule capable of directing the transcription of a given gene and/or the synthesis of a desired protein molecule is produced. The terms also refer to the linkage of amino acid sequences in such a manner so that a functional protein is produced.

The term “transfection” as used herein refers to the introduction of foreign DNA into cells. Transfection may be accomplished by a variety of means known to the art including m phosphate—DNA co—precipitation, DEAE—dextran-mediated transfection, polybrene—mediated transfection, oporation, microinjection, liposome fusion, lipofectin, protoplast fusion, iral infection, biolistics (i.e., particle bombardment) and the like.

As used herein, the terms “complementary” or “complementarity” are used in reference to “polynucleotides” and “oligonucleotides” (which are interchangeable terms that refer to a sequence of nucleotides) related by the base—pairing rules. For example, the sequence GT—3’,” is complementary to the sequence “5’—ACTG-3’.” Complementarity can be “partial” or “total”. “Partial” complementarity is where one or more nucleic acid bases is not matched according to the base g rules. “Total” or “complete” complementarity between nucleic acids is where each and every nucleic acid base is matched with another base under the base pairing rules. The degree of complementarity between nucleic acid strands may have significant effects on the efficiency and strength of hybridization between nucleic acid strands. This may be of ular importance in amplification reactions, as well as detection methods which depend upon binding between nucleic acids. For the sake of convenience, the terms ucleotides” and nucleotides” include molecules which include nucleosides.

The terms “homology” and “homologous” as used herein in nce to nucleotide sequences refer to a degree of complementarity with other nucleotide sequences. There may be partial homology or complete homology (i.e., identity). When used in reference to a -stranded c acid sequence such as a cDNA or genomic clone, the term “substantially homologous” refers to any nucleic acid sequence (e. g., PCT/U82014/029566 probe) which can hybridize to either or both strands of the double-stranded nucleic acid sequence under conditions of low stringency as described above. A nucleotide sequence which is partially complementary, i.e., “substantially homologous,” to a nucleic acid ce is one that at least partially inhibits a completely complementary sequence from hybridizing to a target nucleic acid ce. The inhibition of ization of the completely complementary sequence to the target sequence may be examined using a ization assay (Southern or Northern blot, solution ization and the like) under conditions of low stringency. A substantially homologous sequence or probe will e for and t the binding (i.e., the hybridization) of a tely homologous sequence to a target sequence under conditions of low stringency. This is not to say that conditions of low stringency are such that non-specific binding is permitted; low stringency conditions e that the binding of two sequences to one another be a specific (i.e., selective) interaction. The absence of non—specific binding may be tested by the use of a second target sequence which lacks even a partial degree of complementarity (e. g., less than about 30% identity); in the absence of non-specific g the probe will not hybridize to the second non-complementary target.

Low stringency conditions comprise conditions equivalent to binding or hybridization at 68° C. in a solution consisting of SXSSPE (43.8 g/l NaCl, 6.9 g/l NaH2P04'HZO and 1.85 g/l EDTA, pH adjusted to 7.4 with NaOH), 0.1% SDS, 5x Denhardt's t (50x Denhardt‘s contains per 500 ml: 5 g Ficoll (Type 400, Pharmacia), 5 g BSA (Fraction V; Sigma» and 100 ug/ml denatured salmon sperm DNA followed by washing in a solution comprising 2.0XSSPE, 0.1% SDS at room temperature when a probe of about 100 to about 1000 nucleotides in length is employed.

In addition, conditions which promote hybridization under conditions of high stringency (e.g, increasing the temperature of the hybridization and/or wash steps, the use of formamide in the hybridization solution, etc.) are well known in the art. High ency conditions, when used in reference to nucleic acid hybridization, comprise conditions equivalent to binding or hybridization at 68°C. in a solution consisting of SXSSPE, 1% SDS, 5xDenhardt‘s reagent and 100 ug/ml denatured salmon sperm DNA followed by washing in a solution comprising PE and 0.1% SDS at 68°C. when a probe of about 100 to about 1000 nucleotides in length is employed.

It is well known in the art that numerous equivalent conditions may be employed to comprise low stringency conditions; factors such as the length and nature 2014/029566 (DNA, RNA, base composition) of the probe and nature of the target (DNA, RNA, base composition, present in solution or lized, etc.) and the concentration of the salts and other components (e.g., the presence or absence of formamide, dextran sulfate, polyethylene glycol), as well as components of the hybridization solution may be varied to generate conditions of low stringency hybridization ent from, but equivalent to, the above listed conditions.

The term “equivalent” when made in reference to a hybridization ion as it relates to a hybridization ion of interest means that the ization condition and the hybridization condition of interest result in hybridization of nucleic acid sequences which have the same range of percent (%) homology. For example, if a hybridization condition of interest results in ization of a first nucleic acid sequence with other nucleic acid sequences that have from 50% to 70% homology to the first nucleic acid sequence, then another hybridization condition is said to be equivalent to the hybridization condition of interest if this other hybridization condition also results in hybridization of the first nucleic acid sequence with the other nucleic acid sequences that have from 50% to 70% homology to the first nucleic acid sequence.

As used herein, the term “hybridization” is used in nce to the g of complementary c acids using any process by which a strand of nucleic acid joins with a complementary strand through base pairing to form a hybridization complex.

Hybridization and the strength of hybridization (i.e., the strength of the association between the nucleic acids) is impacted by such factors as the degree of complementarity between the nucleic acids, stringency of the conditions involved, the Tm of the formed hybrid, and the G:C ratio within the nucleic acids.

As used herein the term “hybridization complex” refers to a complex formed between two nucleic acid sequences by virtue of the formation of hydrogen bounds between complementary G and C bases and between complementary A and T bases; these hydrogen bonds may be further stabilized by base stacking interactions. The two mentary nucleic acid sequences hydrogen bond in an antiparallel configuration. A hybridization complex may be formed in solution (e.g., Cot or Rot analysis) or between one nucleic acid sequence present in solution and r c acid sequence immobilized to a solid support (e.g., a nylon membrane or a nitrocellulose filter as employed in Southern and Northern blotting, dot blotting or a glass slide as employed in in. situ hybridization, including FISH escent in situ hybridization».

PCT/USZOl4/029566 As used , the term “Tm” is used in nce to the “melting ature.” The melting temperature is the temperature at which a population of double—stranded nucleic acid molecules becomes half dissociated into single strands. The equation for calculating the Tm of nucleic acids is well known in the art. As indicated by standard references, a simple estimate of the T111 value may be ated by the equation: Tm=81.5+0.4l(% G+C), when a nucleic acid is in aqueous solution at l M NaCl (see e. g., Anderson and Young, Quantitative Filter ization, in Nucleic Acid Hybridization,l985). Other nces include more sophisticated computations which take structural as well as sequence characteristics into account for the calculation of Tm.

As used herein the term “stringency” is used in reference to the conditions of temperature, ionic strength, and the presence of other compounds such as organic ts, under which nucleic acid hybridizations are conducted. gency” typically occurs in a range from about T111°C. to about 20°C. to 25°C. below Tm. As will be understood by those of skill in the art, a stringent hybridization can be used to identify or detect cal polynucleotide sequences or to identify or detect similar or related polynucleotide sequences.

The terms “specific binding,” ng specificity,” and grammatical equivalents thereof when made in reference to the binding of a first nucleotide ce to a second nucleotide sequence, refer to the ential interaction n the first nucleotide sequence with the second nucleotide sequence as compared to the interaction between the second nucleotide sequence with a third nucleotide sequence. Specific binding is a relative term that does not require absolute specificity of binding; in other words, the term “specific binding” does not require that the second nucleotide ce interact with the first nucleotide sequence in the absence of an interaction between the second nucleotide sequence and the third nucleotide sequence. Rather, it is sufficient that the level of interaction between the first nucleotide sequence and the second nucleotide sequence is greater than the level of interaction between the second nucleotide sequence with the third nucleotide sequence. “Specific binding” of a first nucleotide sequence with a second tide sequence also means that the interaction between the first nucleotide sequence and the second nucleotide sequence is dependent upon the presence of a particular structure on or within the first nucleotide sequence; in other words the second nucleotide sequence is recognizing and binding to a specific structure on or within the first nucleotide ce rather than to nucleic acids or to nucleotide sequences in WO 44951 PCT/USZOl4/029566 general. For example, if a second tide sequence is specific for structure “A” that is on or within a first nucleotide sequence, the ce of a third nucleic acid sequence containing structure A will reduce the amount of the second nucleotide sequence which is bound to the first nucleotide sequence.

As used herein, the term “amplifiable nucleic acid” is used in reference to nucleic acids which may be amplified by any amplification method. It is contemplated that “amplifiable nucleic acid” will usually comprise “sample template.” The terms “heterologous nucleic acid sequence” or “heterologous DNA” are used interchangeably to refer to a nucleotide sequence which is ligated to a nucleic acid sequence to which it is not ligated in nature, or to which it is ligated at a different on in nature. Heterologous DNA is not endogenous to the cell into which it is uced, but has been obtained from another cell. Generally, although not necessarily, such heterologous DNA encodes RNA and proteins that are not normally produced by the cell into which it is expressed. Examples of logous DNA include reporter genes, transcriptional and translational regulatory sequences, selectable marker proteins (e. g., proteins which confer drug resistance), etc.

“Amplification” is defined as the production of additional copies of a nucleic acid sequence and is generally carried out using polymerase chain reaction technologies well known in the art (Dieffenbach C W and G S Dveksler (1995) PCR Primer, a Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Press, Plainview, N.Y.). As used herein, the term erase chain reaction” (“PCR”) refers to the method of K. B. Mullis US. Pat.

Nos. 4,683,195, and 202, hereby incorporated by nce, which describe a method for increasing the concentration of a segment of a target sequence in a mixture of genomic DNA without g or purification. The length of the amplified segment of the desired target sequence is determined by the ve positions of two ucleotide primers with t to each other, and therefore, this length is a controllable parameter.

By virtue of the repeating aspect of the process, the method is referred to as the “polymerase chain on” (hereinafter “PCR”). Because the desired amplified segments of the target sequence become the predominant sequences (in terms of concentration) in the mixture, they are said to be “PCR amplified.” With PCR, it is possible to amplify a single copy of a ic target sequence in genomic DNA to a level detectable by several different methodologies (e. g., WO 44951 PCTfUS2014/029566 hybridization with a labeled probe; incorporation of biotinylated primers ed by avidin-enzyme conjugate detection; incorporation of 32P—labeled deoxynucleotide triphosphates, such as dCTP or dATP, into the amplified segment). In addition to genomic DNA, any oligonucleotide sequence can be amplified with the appropriate set of primer molecules. In particular, the amplified segments created by the PCR process itself are, themselves, efficient templates for subsequent PCR amplifications.

One such preferred method, particularly for commercial applications, is based on the widely used TaqMan® real—time PCR logy, and combines Allele-Specific PCR with a Blocking reagent (ASE—PCR) to suppress amplification of the wildype allele.

ASB—PCR can be used for detection of germ line or somatic ons in either DNA or RNA ted from any type of , including formalin—fixed paraffin-embedded tumor specimens. A set of reagent design rules are developed enabling sensitive and selective detection of single point substitutions, insertions, or deletions against a background of wild—type allele in thousand—fold or greater excess. (Morlan J, Baker J, Sinicropi D Mutation Detection by ime PCR: A Simple, Robust and Highly Selective Method. PLoS ONE 4(2): e4584, 2009) The terms “reverse transcription polymerase chain on” and “RT—PCR” refer to a method for reverse transcription of an RNA ce to generate a mixture of cDNA sequences, followed by increasing the concentration of a desired segment of the transcribed cDNA sequences in the e without cloning or purification. Typically, RNA is reverse transcribed using a single primer (e. g., an oligo—dT primer) prior to PCR amplification of the desired t of the transcribed DNA using two primers.

As used herein, the term “primer” refers to an oligonucleotide, r occurring naturally as in a purified ction digest or produced synthetically, which is e of acting as a point of initiation of synthesis when placed under conditions in which synthesis of a primer extension product which is complementary to a nucleic acid strand is induced, (i.e., in the presence of nucleotides and of an inducing agent such as DNA polymerase and at a le temperature and pH). The primer is preferably single stranded for maximum efficiency in amplification, but may alternatively be double stranded. If double stranded, the primer is first treated to separate its strands before being used to prepare extension ts. Preferably, the primer is an oligodeoxyribonucleotide. The primer must be sufficiently long to prime the synthesis of extension products in the presence of the inducing agent. The exact lengths of the primers PCT/U82014/029566 will depend on many factors, including temperature, source of primer and the use of the method.

As used , the term “probe” refers to an oligonucleotide (i.e., a sequence of nucleotides), whether occurring naturally as in a purified restriction digest or produced synthetically, recombinantly or by PCR amplification, which is capable of hybridizing to another oligonucleotide of interest. A probe may be single-stranded or double—stranded.

Probes are useful in the detection, identification and isolation of particular gene sequences. It is contemplated that any probe used in the present invention will be labeled with any “reporter le,” so that it is able in any detection system, including, but not limited to enzyme (e. g., ELISA, as well as enzyme-based histochemical assays), fluorescent, radioactive, and luminescent systems. It is not ed that the present invention be limited to any particular detection system or label.

As used , the terms “restriction endonucleases” and “restriction enzymes” refer to bacterial s, each of which cut or nick double— or single~stranded DNA at or near a specific nucleotide sequence, for example, an endonuclease domain of a type 118 restriction endonuclease (e. g., Fold) can be used, as taught by Kim et al., 1996, Proc. Nat’l. Acad. Sci. USA, 6:1 156—60).

As used herein, the term “an oligonucleotide having a tide sequence encoding a gene” means a nucleic acid sequence sing the coding region of a gene, i.e. the nucleic acid sequence which encodes a gene product. The coding region may be present in either a cDNA, genomic DNA or RNA form. When present in a DNA form, the ucleotide may be single—stranded (i.e., the sense strand) or double—stranded.

Additionally “an oligonucleotide having a nucleotide sequence encoding a gene” may include suitable control elements such as enhancers, promoters, splice junctions, polyadenylation signals, etc. if needed to permit proper initiation of ription and/or correct processing of the primary RNA transcript. Further still, the coding region of the present invention may contain endogenous enhancers, splice junctions, ening sequences, polyadenylation signals, etc. riptional control signals in eukaryotes comprise “enhancer” elements. ers consist of short arrays of DNA sequences that interact specifically with cellular proteins involved in transcription (Maniatis, T. et al., Science 236: 1237, 1987).

Enhancer elements have been isolated from a variety of eukaryotic sources including genes in plant, yeast, insect and mammalian cells and viruses. The selection of a particular enhancer depends on what cell type is to be used to express the protein of interest.

The ce of “splicing signals” on an expression vector often results in higher levels of expression of the recombinant transcript. Splicing signals mediate the removal of introns from the primary RNA transcript and t of a splice donor and acceptor site (Sambrook, J. et al., lar Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 2nd ed., Cold Spring Harbor tory Press, New York, pp. 16.7-16.8, 1989). A commonly used splice donor and acceptor site is the splice junction from the 168 RNA of SV40.

Efficient expression of recombinant DNA sequences in eukaryotic cells requires expression of signals directing the efficient termination and polyadenylation of the resulting transcript. Transcription termination signals are generally found downstream of the polyadenylation signal and are a few hundred nucleotides in length.

The term “poly A site” or “poly A sequence” as used herein s a DNA ce which directs both the termination and polyadenylation of the nascent RNA transcript. ent polyadenylation of the recombinant transcript is desirable as ripts lacking a poly A tail are unstable and are rapidly degraded. The poly A signal utilized in an expression vector may be “heterologous” or “endogenous.” An endogenous poly A signal is one that is found naturally at the 3’ end of the coding region of a given gene in the genome. A heterologous poly A signal is one which is isolated from one gene and placed 3’ of r gene.

The term “promoter,” “promoter element” or “promoter sequence” as used herein, refers to a DNA sequence which when placed at the 5’ end of (ie, precedes) an oligonucleotide sequence is capable of controlling the transcription of the oligonucleotide sequence into mRNA. A promoter is typically located 5’ Ge, am) of an oligonucleotide sequence whose transcription into mRNA it controls, and provides a site for specific binding by RNA polymerase and for initiation of transcription.

The term “promoter activity” when made in reference to a nucleic acid sequence refers to the ability of the nucleic acid sequence to initiate ription of an oligonucleotide sequence into mRNA.

The term “tissue specific” as it applies to a promoter refers to a promoter that is capable of directing selective sion of an oligonucleotide ce to a specific PCT/U82014/029566 type of tissue in the relative absence of expression of the same oligonucleotide in a different type of tissue. Tissue specificity of a promoter may be evaluated by, for example, operably linking a reporter gene to the promoter sequence to generate a reporter construct, introducing the reporter construct into the genome of a plant or an animal such that the reporter construct is integrated into every tissue of the ing transgenic animal, and detecting the expression of the reporter gene (e. g., detecting mRNA, protein, or the activity of a n encoded by the reporter gene) in different tissues of the enic plant or animal, Selectivity need not be absolute. The detection of a greater level of sion of the reporter gene in one or more tissues relative to the level of expression of the reporter gene in other s shows that the promoter is specific for the tissues in which r levels of expression are detected.

The term “cell type specific” as applied to a promoter refers to a promoter which is capable of directing selective sion of an oligonucleotide sequence in a specific type of cell in the relative absence of expression of the same oligonucleotide sequence in a different type of cell within the same tissue. The term “cell type specific” when applied to a promoter also means a er capable of promoting selective expression of an ucleotide in a region within a single tissue. Again, selectivity need not be absolute Cell type specificity of a promoter may be assessed using methods well known in the art, e.g., immunohistochemical ng as described herein. y, tissue sections are embedded in paraffin, and paraffin sections are reacted with a primary antibody which is specific for the polypeptide product encoded by the oligonucleotide sequence whose expression is controlled by the promoter. As an alternative to paraffin sectioning, samples may be cryosectioned. For example, sections may be frozen prior to and during sectioning thus avoiding potential interference by al paraffin. A d (e. g., peroxidase conjugated) secondary antibody which is specific for the primary antibody is allowed to bind to the sectioned tissue and specific binding detected (e. g., with avidin/biotin) by copy.

The terms “selective expression,5’ “selectively express” and grammatical equivalents thereof refer to a comparison of relative levels of expression in two or more regions of interest. For example, “selective expression” when used in connection with tissues refers to a substantially greater level of expression of a gene of st in a particular tissue, or to a ntially r number of cells which express the gene within that tissue, as compared, respectively, to the level of expression of, and the number PCT/USZOl4/029566 of cells expressing, the same gene in another tissue (i.e., selectivity need not be absolute).

Selective expression does not require, although it may include, expression of a gene of interest in a ular tissue and a total absence of sion of the same gene in another tissue. Similarly, “selective expression” as used herein in reference to cell types refers to a substantially greater level of expression of, or a substantially greater number of cells which express, a gene of interest in a particular cell type, when compared, respectively, to the expression levels of the gene and to the number of cells expressing the gene in another cell type.

The term “contiguous” when used in reference to two or more nucleotide sequences means the nucleotide sequences are ligated in tandem either in the absence of intervening sequences, or in the presence of intervening sequences which do not comprise one or more control elements.

As used herein, the terms ic acid molecule encoding,,7 ‘Cnucleotide encoding,” “DNA sequence encoding” and “DNA encoding” refer to the order or ce of deoxyribonucleotides along a strand of deoxyribonucleic acid. The order of these deoxyribonucleotides determines the order of amino acids along the polypeptide (protein) chain. The DNA sequence thus codes for the amino acid ce.

The term ted” when used in relation to a nucleic acid, as in “an isolated oligonucleotide” refers to a nucleic acid ce that is separated from at least one contaminant nucleic acid with which it is ordinarily associated in its l source.

Isolated nucleic acid is nucleic acid present in a form or setting that is different from that in which it is found in nature. In contrast, non—isolated nucleic acids are nucleic acids such as DNA and RNA which are found in the state they exist in nature. For example, a given DNA sequence (e.g., a gene) is found on the host cell chromosome in proximity to neighboring genes; RNA sequences, such as a specific mRNA sequence encoding a specific protein, are found in the cell as a mixture with numerous other mRNAs which encode a multitude of proteins. However, isolated nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide of interest es, by way of example, such nucleic acid in cells ordinarily sing the ptide of interest where the nucleic acid is in a chromosomal or extrachromosomal location ent from that of natural cells, or is otherwise flanked by a different nucleic acid sequence than that found in nature. The isolated nucleic acid or oligonucleotide may be t in —stranded or double-stranded form. Isolated nucleic acid can be readily identified (if desired) by a variety of techniques (e.g., hybridization, dot blotting, W0 44951 etc). When an ed c acid or oligonucleotide is to be utilized to express a protein, the oligonucleotide will contain at a minimum the sense or coding strand (i.e., the oligonucleotide may be single—stranded). Alternatively, it may contain both the sense and anti-sense strands (i.e., the oligonucleotide may be double—stranded).

As used herein, the term “purified” or “to purify” refers to the removal of one or more (undesired) components from a sample. For example, where recombinant polypeptides are expressed in bacterial host cells, the polypeptides are purified by the removal of host cell proteins thereby increasing the percent of recombinant polypeptides in the sample.

As used , the term “substantially purified” refers to molecules, either nucleic or amino acid sequences, that are removed from their natural environment, isolated or separated, and are at least 60% free, preferably 75% free and more preferably 90% free from other components with which they are naturally associated. An “isolated polynucleotide” is, therefore, a ntially ed polynucleotide.

As used herein the term “coding region” when used in reference to a structural gene refers to the nucleotide sequences which encode the amino acids found in the nascent polypeptide as a result of translation of a mRNA molecule. The coding region is bounded, in eukaryotes, on the 5’ side lly by the nucleotide triplet “ATG” which encodes the initiator methionine and on the 3’ side by one of the three triplets which specify stop codons (i.e., TAA, TAG, TGA).

By "coding sequence" is meant a sequence of a nucleic acid or its complement, or a part thereof, that can be transcribed and/or ated to e the mRNA for and/or the polypeptide or a fragment thereof. Coding sequences include exons in a genomic DNA or immature primary RNA transcripts, which are joined together by the cell's biochemical ery to provide a mature mRNA. The anti—sense strand is the complement of such a nucleic acid, and the encoding sequence can be deduced rom.

By ”non-coding sequence” is meant a sequence of a nucleic acid or its complement, or a part thereof that is not transcribed into amino acid in vivo, or where tRNA does not interact to place or attempt to place an amino acid. Non—coding sequences include both intron sequences in c DNA or immature primary RNA ripts, and gene-associated sequences such as promoters, enhancers, silencers, etc.

PCT/U82014/029566 As used herein, the term “structural gene” or “structural nucleotide sequence” refers to a DNA ce coding for RNA or a protein which does not control the expression of other genes. In contrast, a “regulatory gene” or “regulatory ce” is a structural gene which encodes products (e.g., transcription factors) which control the expression of other genes.

As used herein, the term “regulatory element” refers to a c element which controls some aspect of the expression of nucleic acid sequences. For example, a promoter is a regulatory element which facilitates the initiation of transcription of an operably linked coding region. Other regulatory elements include splicing signals, polyadenylation signals, termination signals, etc.

As used herein, the term “peptide transcription factor binding site” or cription factor g site” refers to a nucleotide sequence which binds protein transcription factors and, thereby, controls some aspect of the expression of nucleic acid ces. For example, Sp—l and APl (activator protein 1) binding sites are examples of peptide transcription factor g sites.

As used herein, the term “gene” means the deoxyribonucleotide sequences comprising the coding region of a structural gene A “gene” may also include non- translated ces d adjacent to the coding region on both the 5’ and 3’ ends such that the gene corresponds to the length of the full-length mRNA. The sequences which are located 5’ of the coding region and which are present on the mRNA are ed to as ’ non-translated sequences. The sequences which are located 3’ or downstream of the coding region and which are present on the mRNA are referred to as 3’ non—translated sequences. The term “gene” encompasses both cDNA and genomic forms of a gene. A genomic form or clone of a gene contains the coding region interrupted with non—coding sequences termed ns” or “intervening regions” or “intervening sequences.” Introns are segments of a gene which are transcribed into heterogenous nuclear RNA (hnRNA); introns may contain regulatory elements such as enhancers. Introns are d or “spliced out” from the r or primary transcript; introns therefore are absent in the messenger RNA (mRNA) transcript. The mRNA functions during translation to specify the sequence or order of amino acids in a nascent polypeptide.

In addition to containing introns, genomic forms of a gene may also include sequences located on both the 5’ and 3’ end of the sequences which are present on the PCT/USZOl4/029566 RNA transcript. These sequences are ed to as “flanking” sequences or regions (these flanking ces are located 5’ or 3’ to the non—translated sequences t on the mRNA transcript). The 5’ flanking region may contain regulatory sequences such as promoters and enhancers which control or influence the transcription of the gene. The 3’ flanking region may contain sequences which direct the termination of transcription, post— transcriptional cleavage and polyadenylation.

A “non-human animal” refers to any animal which is not a human and includes vertebrates such as rodents, non-human primates, , bovines, ruminants, lagomorphs, porcines, caprines, equines, canines, felines, aves, etc. Preferred non-human animals are selected from the order Rodentia. “Non-human animal” additionally refers to amphibians (e. g. Xenopus), reptiles, insects (e. g. Drosophila) and other non-mammalian animal species.

As used herein, the term “transgenic” refers to an organism or cell that has DNA derived from another organism inserted into which becomes integrated into the genome either of somatic and/or germ line cells of the plant or animal. A gene” means a DNA sequence which is partly or entirely heterologous (i.e., not present in nature) to the plant or animal in which it is found, or which is gous to an nous sequence (i.e., a sequence that is found in the animal in nature) and is inserted into the plant’ or animal's genome at a location which differs from that of the naturally occurring sequence. Transgenic plants or animals which include one or more enes are within the scope of this invention. onally, a “transgenic” as used herein refers to an animal that has had one or more genes ed and/or “knocked out” (made non—functional or made to function at reduced level, i.e., a “knockout” mutation) by the invention‘s methods, by homologous recombination, TFO mutation or by similar processes. For example, in some embodiments, a transgenic organism or cell includes inserted DNA that includes a foreign promoter and/or coding region.

A formed cell” is a cell or cell line that has ed the ability to grow in cell culture for multiple generations, the y to grow in soft agar, and/or the ability to not have cell growth inhibited by cell-to-cell contact. In this regard, transformation refers to the uction of foreign genetic material into a cell or organism.

Transformation may be accomplished by any method known which permits the successful introduction of nucleic acids into cells and which results in the expression of the introduced nucleic acid. “Transformation” es but is not limited to such methods as PCT/U82014/029566 transfection, microinjection, electroporation, nucleofection and lipofection ome~ mediated gene transfer). Transformation may be accomplished through use of any expression vector. For example, the use of baculovirus to uce foreign c acid into insect cells is contemplated. The term “transformation” also includes methods such as P—element ed germline transformation of whole insects. Additionally, transformation refers to cells that have been transformed naturally, usually through genetic mutation.

As used herein “exogenous” means that the gene encoding the n is not normally expressed in the cell. Additionally, “exogenous” refers to a gene transfected into a cell to augment the normal (i.e. natural) level of expression of that gene.

A peptide sequence and nucleotide sequence may be “endogenous” or “heterologous” (i.e., “foreign”). The term “endogenous” refers to a sequence which is naturally found in the cell into which it is introduced so long as it does not contain some modification relative to the naturally—occurring sequence. The term ologous” refers to a sequence which is not endogenous to the cell into which it is introduced. For example, heterologous DNA es a nucleotide sequence which is ligated to, or is manipulated to become ligated to, a nucleic acid sequence to which it is not ligated in nature, or to which it is ligated at a different location in nature. Heterologous DNA also includes a nucleotide sequence which is lly found in the cell into which it is introduced and which contains some modification relative to the naturally—occurring sequence. Generally, although not necessarily, heterologous DNA encodes logous RNA and heterologous proteins that are not normally produced by the cell into which it is introduced. Examples of heterologous DNA include reporter genes, transcriptional and ational regulatory sequences, DNA sequences which encode selectable marker proteins (e. g., proteins which confer drug resistance), etc.

Constructs ] The nucleic acid molecules disclosed herein (e. g., site specific nucleases, or guide RNA for CRISPRS) can be used in the production of recombinant nucleic acid constructs. In one embodiment, the nucleic acid les of the t disclosure can be used in the preparation of nucleic acid constructs, for example, expression cassettes for sion in the plant of interest. This expression may be transient for instance when the construct is not integrated into the host genome or maintained under the l offered PCT/USZOl4/029566 by the promoter and the position of the construct within the host’s genome if it becomes integrated.

Expression cassettes may include regulatory sequences operably linked to the site specific nuclease or guide RNA sequences disclosed herein. The cassette may additionally contain at least one additional gene to be co-transformed into the organism.

Alternatively, the additional ) can be provided on multiple expression cassettes.

] The c acid constructs may be provided with a plurality of restriction sites for insertion of the site Specific nuclease coding sequence to be under the transcriptional regulation of the regulatory regions. The nucleic acid constructs may additionally contain nucleic acid molecules ng for selectable marker genes.

Any promoter can be used in the production of the nucleic acid constructs.

The promoter may be native or ous, or foreign or heterologous, to the plant host nucleic acid sequences sed herein. Additionally, the promoter may be the natural sequence or atively a tic sequence. Where the promoter is “foreign” or “heterologous” to the plant host, it is intended that the promoter is not found in the native plant into which the promoter is uced. As used herein, a chimeric gene comprises a coding sequence ly linked to a transcription tion region that is heterologous to the coding sequence.

] The site directed se sequences disclosed herein may be expressed using heterologous promoters.

Any er can be used in the preparation of constructs to control the expression of the site directed nuclease sequences, such as promoters providing for constitutive, tissue-preferred, inducible, or other promoters for expression in plants.

Constitutive promoters include, for example, the core promoter of the Rsyn7 promoter and other constitutive promoters disclosed in W0 99/43 838 and US. Patent No. 6,072,050; the core CaMV 35$ promoter (Odell et al. Nature 313:810—812; 1985); rice actin (McElroy et al., Plant Cell 2:163-171, 1990); ubiquitin (Christensen et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 12:619—632, 1989 and Christensen et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 18:675—689, 1992); pEMU (Last et al., Theor. Appl. Genet. 81:581-588, 1991); MAS (Velten et al., EMBO J. 312723—2730, 1984); ALS promoter (US. Patent No. 5,659,026), and the like. Other constitutive promoters include, for example, US. Patent Nos. 5,608,149; 5,608,144; ,604,121; 5,569,597; 5,466,785; 5,399,680; 463; 5,608,142; and 6,177,611.

WO 44951 PCT/U82014/029566 ] -preferred promoters can be utilized to direct site directed nuclease expression within a particular plant tissue. Such tissue—preferred promoters e, but are not limited to, leaf~preferred ers, root-preferred promoters, seed-preferred promoters, and stem—preferred promoters. Tissue—preferred promoters include Yamamoto et a1., Plant J. 12(2):255-265, 1997; Kawamata et a1., Plant Cell Physiol. 38(7):792—803, 1997; Hansen et 211., M01. Gen Genet. 254(3):337~343, 1997; Russell et a1., Transgenic Res. 6(2):157—168, 1997; Rinehart et a1., Plant Physiol. 1 12(3):1331-1341, 1996; Van Camp et a1., Plant Physiol. 1 12(2):525—535, 1996; scini et a1., Plant l. 112(2): 513—524, 1996; Yamamoto et a1., Plant Cell Physiol. 35(5):773—778, 1994; Lam, Results Probl. Cell Differ. 20:181-196, 1994; Orozco et al. Plant Mol Biol. 23(6):1129— 1138, 1993; Matsuoka et a1., Proc Nat’l. Acad. Sci. USA :9586~ 9590, 1993; and Guevara-Garcia et al., Plant J. 4(3):495-505, 1993.

The nucleic acid constructs may also include transcription termination s.

Where transcription terminations regions are used, any termination region may be used in the preparation of the nucleic acid constructs. For example, the termination region may be derived from another source (i.e., foreign or heterologous to the promoter). Examples of termination regions that are available for use in the constructs of the present disclosure include those from the Ti—plasmid of A. aciens, such as the octopine synthase and nopaline synthase termination regions. See also Guerineau et a1, M01. Gen. Genet. 262:141—144, 1991; Proudfoot, Cell 64:671—674, 1991; Sanfacon et a1., Genes Dev. :141—149, 1991; Mogen et al., Plant Cell 2:1261—1272, 1990; Munroe et a1., Gene —158, 1990; Ballas et a1, Nucleic Acids Res. l7:7891~7903, 1989; and Joshi et al., c Acid Res. 15:9627—9639, 1987.

In conjunction with any of the aspects, embodiments, methods and/or compositions disclosed herein, the nucleic acids may be optimized for increased expression in the transformed plant. That is, the nucleic acids encoding the site directed nuclease proteins can be synthesized using plant—preferred codons for improved expression. See, for example, Campbell and Gowri, (Plant Physiol. 1, 1990) for a discussion of host—preferred codon usage. Methods are available in the art for sizing plant—preferred genes. See, for example, US Patent Nos. 5,380,831, and ,436,391, and Murray et a1., Nucleic Acids Res. 17:477—498, 1989.

In addition, other sequence modifications can be made to the nucleic acid ces disclosed herein. For example, additional sequence modifications are known to enhance gene expression in a cellular host. These include elimination of sequences encoding spurious enylation signals, exon/intron splice site signals, transposon-like repeats, and other such haracterized sequences that may be deleterious to gene expression. The G-C content of the sequence may also be adjusted to levels average for a target cellular host, as calculated by reference to known genes expressed in the host cell.

In addition, the sequence can be modified to avoid predicted hairpin ary mRNA structures .

Other nucleic acid sequences may also be used in the ation of the constructs of the present disclosure, for example to enhance the expression of the site directed nuclease coding sequence. Such nucleic acid sequences include the introns of the maize Ath, intronl gene (Callis et al., Genes and Development 1:1183-1200, 1987), and leader sequences, (W-sequence) from the Tobacco Mosaic virus (TMV), Maize Chlorotic Mottle Virus and Alfalfa Mosaic Virus (Gallie et al., Nucleic Acid Res. :8693—871 1, 1987; and Skuzeski eta1., Plant Mol. Biol. 15:65-79, 1990). The first intron from the shrunken-1 locus of maize has been shown to increase sion of genes in chimeric gene constructs. US. Pat. Nos. 5,424,412 and 5,593,874 disclose the use of ic introns in gene expression constructs, and Gallie et al. (Plant Physiol. 1062929939, 1994) also have shown that introns are useful for regulating gene sion on a tissue ic basis. To further enhance or to optimize site directed nuclease gene expression, the plant expression vectors disclosed herein may also contain DNA sequences containing matrix attachment s (MARS). Plant cells transformed with such modified expression s, then, may exhibit overexpression or constitutive expression of a nucleotide sequence of the sure.

The expression constructs disclosed herein can also include nucleic acid sequences capable of directing the expression of the site directed nuclease sequence to the chloroplast. Such nucleic acid sequences e chloroplast targeting sequences that encodes a chloroplast t peptide to direct the gene product of interest to plant cell chloroplasts. Such transit peptides are known in the art. With respect to chloroplast- targeting sequences, “operably ” means that the nucleic acid sequence encoding a transit peptide (i.e., the chloroplast—targeting sequence) is linked to the site directed nuclease nucleic acid molecules disclosed herein such that the two ces are contiguous and in the same reading frame. See, for example, Von Heijne et al., Plant Mol. Biol. Rep. 9:104-126, 1991; Clark et al., J. Biol. Chem. 264:17544—17550, 1989; PCT/U82014/029566 Della—Cioppa et al., Plant Physiol. 84:965—968, 1987; Romer et al., m. Biophys.

Res. . 196:1414—1421, 1993; and Shah et al., Science 233:478—481, 1986. plast targeting sequences are known in the art and include the chloroplast small subunit of ribulose—1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (Rubisco) (de Castro Silva Filho et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 302769080, 1996; Schnell et al., J. Biol. Chem. 266(5):3335—3342, 1991); 5~ (enolpyruvyl)shikimate~3—phosphate synthase (EPSPS) (Archer et al., J. Bioenerg. Biomemb. 22(6):789—810, 1990); tryptophan synthase (Zhao et al., J. Biol. Chem. 270(1 1):6081— 6087, 1995); plastocyanin (Lawrence eta1., J. Biol.

Chem. 272(33):20357—20363, 1997); chorismate synthase (Schmidt et al., J. Biol. Chem. 268(36):27447-27457, 1993); and the light harvesting chlorophyll a/b binding protein (LHBP) (Lamppa et al., J. Biol. Chem. 263:14996-14999, 1988). See also Von Heijne et al., Plant Mol. Biol. Rep. 9:104—126, 1991; Clark et al., J. Biol. Chem. 264:17544-17550, 1989; Della-Cioppa et al., Plant Physiol. 84:965—968, 1987; Romer et al., Biochem.

Biophys. Res. Commun. 196:1414—1421, 1993; and Shah et al., Science 233 :478-481, 1986.

In conjunction with any of the aspects, embodiments, methods and/or itions disclosed herein, the nucleic acid constructs may be prepared to direct the expression of the mutant site directed nuclease coding sequence from the plant cell chloroplast. Methods for transformation of chloroplasts are known in the art. See, for example, Svab et al., Proc. Nat’l. Acad. Sci. USA 87:8526—8530, 1990; Svab and Maliga, Proc. Nat’l. Acad. Sci. USA 90:913-917, 1993; Svab and Maliga, EMBO J. 122601—606, 1993. The method relies on le gun delivery of DNA containing a selectable marker and targeting of the DNA to the plastid genome h homologous ination.

Additionally, plastid transformation can be accomplished by transactivation of a silent plastid—borne transgene by —preferred expression of a nuclear—encoded and plastid— directed RNA rase. Such a system has been reported in McBride et al. Proc.

Nat’l. Acad. Sci. USA 91:7301—7305, 1994.

The nucleic acids of interest to be targeted to the chloroplast may be optimized for expression in the chloroplast to account for differences in codon usage between the plant nucleus and this organelle. In this , the c acids of interest may be synthesized using chloroplast-preferred codons. See, for example, US. Patent No. ,3 , herein incorporated by reference.

PCT/U82014/029566 The nucleic acid constructs can be used to transform plant cells and regenerate transgenic plants comprising the site directed nuclease coding sequences. Numerous plant transformation vectors and methods for transforming plants are available. See, for example, US. Patent No. 458, An, G. et al., Plant Physiol., 81 :301-305, 1986; Fry, J. et al., Plant Cell Rep. 325, 1987; Block, M., Theor. Appl Genet. 76:767—774, 1988; Hinchee et al., Stadler. Genet. Symp.2032l2.203~212, 1990; Cousins et al., Aust. J.

Plant Physiol. 18:481-494, 1991; Chee, P. P. and Slightom, J. L., Gene.ll8:255~260, 1992; ou et al., Trends. Biotechnol. 10:239—246, 1992; D'Halluin et al., Bio/Technol. 10:309-3 14, 1992; Dhir et al., Plant Physiol. 99:81—88, 1992; Casas et al., Proc. Nat’l. Acad Sci. USA 12—11216, 1993; Christou, P., In Vitro Cell. Dev.

Biol—Plant 29le , 1993; Davies, et al., Plant Cell Rep. 12:180—183, 1993; Dong, J.

A. and Mc Hughen, A., Plant Sci. 91:139-148, 1993; Franklin, C. I. and Trieu, T. N., Plant. Physiol. 102:167, 1993; Golovkin et al., Plant Sci. 90:41—52, 1993; Guo Chin Sci.

Bull. 38:2072~2078; Asano, et al., Plant Cell Rep. 13, 1994; Ayeres N. M. and Park, W.

D., Crit. Rev. Plant. Sci. 13:219-239, 1994; o et al., Plant. J. 52583692, 1994; Becker, et al., Plant. J. 52299—307, 1994; Borkowska et al., Acta. l Plant. 16:225- 230, 1994; Christou, P., Agro. Food. Ind. Hi Tech. 5:17—27, 1994; Eapen et al., Plant Cell Rep. 13:582—586. 1994; Hartman et al., Bio—Technology 923, 1994; Ritala et al., Plant. Mol. Biol. 24:317—325, 1994; and Wan, Y. C. and Lemaux, P. G., Plant Physiol. 104:3748, 1994. The constructs may also be transformed into plant cells using homologous recombination.

The term “wild—type” when made in reference to a peptide ce and nucleotide sequence refers to a peptide sequence and nucleotide ce /gene/allele), respectively, which has the characteristics of that peptide sequence and nucleotide sequence when isolated from a naturally occurring source. A wild—type peptide sequence and nucleotide sequence is that which is most frequently observed in a population and is thus arily designated the “normal” or “wild~type” form of the peptide sequence and nucleotide sequence, respectively. "Wild-type” may also refer to the sequence at a specific nucleotide position or positions, or the sequence at a particular codon position 01‘ positions, or the sequence at a particular 110 acid position or positions.

“Consensus sequence” is defined as a sequence of amino acids or nucleotides that contain identical amino acids or nucleotides or functionally equivalent amino acids or PCT/U82014/029566 nucleotides for at least 25% of the sequence. The cal or functionally equivalent amino acids or nucleotides need not be contiguous.

The term “Brassica” as used herein refers to plants of the ca genus.

Exemplary Brassica s include, but are not limited to, B. carinata, B. elongate, B. fruticulosa, B. juncea, B. napus, B. sa, B. nigra, B. oleracea, B. perviridis, B. rapa (syn B. campestris), B. rupestris, B. septiceps, and B. tournefortii.

A nucleobase is a base, which in certain preferred embodiments is a purine, pyrimidine, or a derivative or analog f. Nucleosides are nucleobases that n a pentosefuranosyl moiety, e.g., an optionally substituted riboside or 2‘~deoxyriboside.

Nucleosides can be linked by one of several linkage moieties, which may or may not n phosphorus. Nucleosides that are linked by unsubstituted phosphodiester linkages are termed tides. The term "nucleobase" as used herein includes peptide nucleobases, the subunits of peptide nucleic acids, and morpholine nucleobases as well as nucleosides and nucleotides.

An oligonucleobase is a polymer comprising nucleobases; preferably at least a n of which can hybridize by Watson—Crick base pairing to a DNA having the complementary sequence. An oligonucleobase chain may have a single 5' and 3' terminus, which are the ultimate nucleobases of the polymer. A particular ucleobase chain can contain nucleobases of all types. An oligonucleobase nd is a compound comprising one or more oligonucleobase chains that may be complementary and hybridized by Watson-Crick base pairing. Ribo—type nucleobases include pentosefuranosyl containing nucleobases wherein the 2‘ carbon is a methylene tuted with a hydroxyl, alkyloxy or halogen. Deoxyribo-type nucleobases are nucleobases other than ribo—type nucleobases and include all nucleobases that do not contain a pentosefuranosyl moiety.

In certain embodiments, an oligonucleobase strand may include both oligonucleobase chains and segments or regions of oligonucleobase chains. An oligonucleobase strand may have a 3‘ end and a 5' end, and when an oligonucleobase strand is nsive with a chain, the 3' and 5‘ ends of the strand are also 3‘ and 5‘ termini of the chain.

PCT/U82014/029566 The term ”gene repair ucleobase" as used herein denotes oligonucleobases, including mixed duplex oligonucleotides, non—nucleotide ning molecules, single ed oligodeoxynucleotides and other gene repair molecules.

As used herein the term ”codon" refers to a sequence of three adjacent nucleotides (either RNA or DNA) constituting the c code that determines the insertion of a specific amino acid in a polypeptide chain during protein sis or the signal to stop protein synthesis. The term "codon" is also used to refer to the corresponding (and complementary) sequences of three nucleotides in the messenger RNA into which the original DNA is transcribed.

As used , the term "homology" refers to sequence similarity among proteins and DNA. The term "homology" or "homologous" refers to a degree of identity.

There may be partial homology or complete homology. A partially homologous sequence is one that has less than 100% sequence identity when compared to another sequence.

”Heterozygous" refers to having different alleles at one or more genetic loci in homologous chromosome segments. As used herein "heterozygous" may also refer to a sample, a cell, a cell population or an organism in which different alleles at one or more c loci may be detected. Heterozygous samples may also be ined via s known in the art such as, for example, nucleic acid sequencing. For example, if a sequencing electropherogram shows two peaks at a single locus and both peaks are y the same size, the sample may be characterized as heterozygous. Or, if one peak is smaller than another, but is at least about 25% the size of the larger peak, the sample may be characterized as heterozygous. In some ments, the smaller peak is at least about 15% of the larger peak. In other embodiments, the smaller peak is at least about % of the larger peak. In other embodiments, the smaller peak is at least about 5% of the larger peak. In other embodiments, a minimal amount of the smaller peak is detected.

As used herein, "homozygous" refers to having identical alleles at one or more genetic loci in homologous chromosome segments. "Homozygous" may also refer to a sample, a cell, a cell population or an organism in which the same alleles at one or more genetic loci may be detected. Homozygous samples may be determined Via methods known in the art, such as, for example, nucleic acid sequencing. For example, if a sequencing electropherogram shows a single peak at a particular locus, the sample may be termed "homozygous" with respect to that locus.

The term ”hemizygous" refers to a gene or gene segment being present only once in the genotype of a cell or an organism because the second allele is deleted. As used herein ygous" may also refer to a sample, a cell, a cell population or an organism in which an allele at one or more genetic loci may be detected only once in the genotype.

The term "zygosity status" as used herein refers to a sample, a cell population, or an organism as appearing heterozygous, homozygous, or hemizygous as determined by testing methods known in the art and described herein. The term ”zygosity status of a nucleic acid" means ining whether the source of c acid appears heterozygous, homozygous, or hemizygous. The "zygosity status" may refer to differences in a single nucleotide in a sequence. In some methods, the ty status of a sample with respect to a single mutation may be categorized as homozygous wild—type, zygous (i.e., one wild—type allele and one mutant allele), homozygous mutant, or hemizygous (i.e., a single copy of either the wild—type or mutant allele).

As used herein, the term "RTDS" refers to The Rapid Trait Development TM (RTDS) developed by Cibus. RTDS is a site—specific gene modification system that is effective at making precise changes in a gene sequence without the incorporation of foreign genes or l sequences.

The term " as used herein means in quantitative terms plus or minus %. For example, "about 3%" would encompass 2.733% and "about 10%" would encompass 9—11%.

Repair ucleotides This invention generally relates to novel methods to improve the efficiency of the targeting of modifications to specific locations in genomic or other nucleotide sequences. Additionally, this invention relates to target DNA that has been modified, mutated or marked by the approaches disclosed . The invention also relates to cells, , and organisms which have been modified by the ion's methods. The present invention builds on the development of compositions and methods related in part to the successful conversion system, the Rapid Trait Development System (RTDSTM, Cibus US LLC).

RTDS is based on altering a targeted gene by utilizing the cell‘s own gene repair system to specifically modify the gene sequence in situ and not insert foreign DNA and gene expression control sequences. This procedure effects a precise change in the PCT/USZOI4/029566 genetic sequence while the rest of the genome is left red. In contrast to conventional transgenic GMOs, there is no integration of foreign genetic material, nor is any foreign genetic material left in the plant. The changes in the genetic sequence uced by RTDS are not randomly inserted Since affected genes remain in their native location, no random, rolled or adverse pattern of expression occurs.

The RTDS that effects this change is a chemically synthesized oligonucleotide which may be composed of both DNA and modified RNA bases as well as other chemical moieties, and is designed to hybridize at the targeted gene location to create a mismatched base—pair(s). This mismatched base—pair acts as a signal to t the cell‘s own natural gene repair system to that site and correct (replace, insert or delete) the designated tide(s) within the gene. Once the tion process is complete the RTDS molecule is degraded and the dified or repaired gene is expressed under that gene's normal endogenous control mechanisms.

The methods and compositions disclosed herein can be practiced or made with gene repair ucleobases" (GRON) having the conformations and chemistries as bed in detail below. The " gene repair oligonucleobases" as contemplated herein have also been described in published scientific and patent literature using other names including "recombinagenic oligonucleobasesg" "RNA/DNA chimeric oligonucleotides;” ”chimeric oligonucleotides;" "mixed duplex oligonucleotides" (MDONs); "RNA DNA oligonucleotides (RDOs);" " H II II II gene targeting oligonucleotides; genoplasts; single stranded ed oligonucleotides;" "Single stranded oligodeoxynucleotide onal vectors" (SSOMVs); "duplex mutational vectors;" and oduplex mutational vectors." The gene repair oligonucleobase can be introduced into a plant cell using any method ly used in the art, including but not limited to, microcarriers (biolistic delivery), microfibers, polyethylene glycol (PEG)~mediated uptake, electroporation, and microinjection.

In one embodiment, the gene repair oligonucleobase is a mixed duplex oligonucleotides (MDON) in which the RNA—type nucleotides of the mixed duplex oligonucleotide are made RNase ant by replacing the 2'~hydroxyl with a fluoro, chloro or bromo functionality or by placing a substituent on the 2'-O. Suitable substituents include the substituents taught by the Kmiec 11. Alternative substituents include the substituents taught by US Pat. No. 5,334,71 l (Sproat) and the substituents taught by patent publications EP 629 387 and EP 679 657 (collectively, the Martin PCT/USZOI4/029566 Applications), which are hereby incorporated by reference. As used herein, a 2‘—fluoro, chloro or bromo derivative of a ribonucleotide or a ribonucleotide having a T~ OH substituted with a substituent bed in the Martin ations or Sproat is termed a "T— Substituted Ribonucleotide." As used herein the term "RNA-type nucleotide" means a T— hydroxyl or 2 ‘-Substituted Nucleotide that is linked to other tides of a mixed duplex oligonucleotide by an unsubstituted phosphodiester e or any of the non— natural linkages taught by Kmiec I or Kmiec II. As used herein the term "deoxyribo—type nucleotide" means a tide having a T—H, which can be linked to other tides of a gene repair oligonucleobase by an unsubstituted phosphodiester linkage or any of the non—natural linkages taught by Kmiec I or Kmiec II.

In a particular embodiment of the present invention, the gene repair oligonucleobase is a mixed duplex oligonucleotide (MDON) that is linked solely by unsubstituted phosphodiester bonds. In alternative embodiments, the linkage is by substituted phosphodiesters, phosphodiester derivatives and non—phosphorus—based linkages as taught by Kmiec II. In yet another embodiment, each RNA—type nucleotide in the mixed duplex oligonucleotide is a 2 '—Substituted Nucleotide. ular preferred embodiments of 2'-Substituted Ribonucleotides are 2'—fluoro, T— methoxy, 2'—propyloxy, 2’—allyloxy, 2'—hydroxylethyloxy, 2‘-methoxyethyloxy, T— fluoropropyloxy and 2'— trifluoropropyloxy substituted ribonucleotides. More preferred embodiments of 2'— Substituted Ribonucleotides are oro, 2'—methoxy, 2‘~methoxyethyloxy, and 2‘— allyloxy substituted nucleotides. In another embodiment the mixed duplex oligonucleotide is linked by unsubstituted phosphodiester bonds, Although mixed duplex oligonucleotides (MDONS) having only a single type of 2'- substituted RNA—type nucleotide are more iently synthesized, the methods of the invention can be practiced with mixed duplex oligonucleotides having two or more types of RNA—type nucleotides. The function of an RNA segment may not be affected by an interruption caused by the introduction of a deoxynucleotide n two RNA-type trinucleotides, accordingly, the term RNA segment encompasses terms such as "interrupted RNA segment." An uninterrupted RNA segment is termed a contiguous RNA segment. In an alternative embodiment an RNA segment can contain alternating RNase~ resistant and unsubstituted 2'~OH nucleotides. The mixed duplex ucleotides preferably have fewer than 100 nucleotides and more ably fewer than 85 nucleotides, but more than 50 tides. The first and second strands are Watson—Crick W0 2014/144951 PCTfUS2014/029566 base paired. In one embodiment the strands of the mixed duplex oligonucleotide are covalently bonded by a , such as a single stranded hexa, penta or tetranucleotide so that the first and second strands are ts of a single oligonucleotide chain having a single 3' and a single 5' end. The 3' and 5' ends can be protected by the addition of a "hairpin cap" y the 3' and 5' terminal nucleotides are Watson—Crick paired to nt tides. A second hairpin cap can, additionally, be placed at the junction between the first and second strands distant from the 3' and 5' ends, so that the Watson— Crick pairing between the first and second strands is stabilized.

The first and second s contain two regions that are homologous with two fragments of the target gene, i.e., have the same sequence as the target gene. A homologous region contains the nucleotides of an RNA segment and may contain one or more DNA—type tides of connecting DNA segment and may also contain DNA— type nucleotides that are not within the intervening DNA segment. The two regions of homology are ted by, and each is adjacent to, a region having a sequence that differs from the sequence of the target gene, termed a ”heterologous ." The heterologous region can contain one, two or three mismatched nucleotides. The mismatched nucleotides can be contiguous or alternatively can be separated by one or two nucleotides that are homologous with the target gene. Alternatively, the heterologous region can also contain an ion or one, two, three or of five or fewer nucleotides.

Alternatively, the sequence of the mixed duplex oligonucleotide may differ from the sequence of the target gene only by the deletion of one, two, three, or five or fewer nucleotides from the mixed duplex oligonucleotide. The length and position of the heterologous region is, in this case, deemed to be the length of the deletion, even though no nucleotides of the mixed duplex oligonucleotide are within the heterologous region.

The distance between the fragments of the target gene that are complementary to the two homologous regions is identical to the length of the heterologous region where a substitution or substitutions is intended. When the heterologous region contains an insertion, the homologous regions are y separated in the mixed duplex ucleotide farther than their complementary homologous fragments are in the gene, and the converse is applicable when the heterologous region encodes a deletion.

The RNA segments of the mixed duplex oligonucleotides are each a part of a homologous region, Le, a region that is cal in sequence to a fragment of the target gene, which segments together preferably contain at least 13 RNA—type nucleotides and preferably from 16 to 25 RNA—type nucleotides or yet more preferably 18—22 RNA—type nucleotides or most preferably 20 nucleotides. In one embodiment, RNA segments of the homology s are separated by and adjacent to, Le, "connected by" an intervening DNA t. In one embodiment, each nucleotide of the heterologous region is a nucleotide of the intervening DNA segment. An intervening DNA segment that contains the heterologous region of a mixed duplex oligonucleotide is termed a ”mutator segment." In another embodiment of the t invention, the gene repair ucleobase (GRON) is a single stranded oligodeoxynucleotide mutational vector (SSOMV), which is disclosed in International Patent Application PCT/USOO/23457, US Pat. Nos. 6,271,360, 6,479,292, and 500 which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. The sequence of the SSOMV is based on the same principles as the mutational vectors bed in US. Pat. Nos. 5,756,325; 984; 5,760,012; ,888,983; 5,795,972; 5,780,296; 5,945,339; 6,004,804; and 6,010,907 and in International Publication Nos. WO 98/49350; WO 65; WO 99/58723; WO 99/5 8702; and WO 99/40789. The sequence of the SSOMV contains two regions that are homologous with the target sequence separated by a region that contains the desired genetic alteration termed the r region. The mutator region can have a sequence that is the same length as the sequence that separates the homologous regions in the target sequence, but having a different sequence. Such a mutator region can cause a substitution. Alternatively, the homologous s in the SSOMV can be contiguous to each other, while the regions in the target gene having the same sequence are separated by one, two or more nucleotides. Such an SSOMV causes a deletion from the target gene of the nucleotides that are absent from the SSOMV. , the sequence of the target gene that is identical to the homologous regions may be adjacent in the target gene but separated by one, two, or more nucleotides in the sequence of the SSOMV. Such an SSOMV causes an insertion in the sequence of the target gene.

The nucleotides of the SSOMV are deoxyribonucleotides that are linked by unmodified odiester bonds except that the 3' terminal and/or 5' terminal internucleotide linkage or alternatively the two 3' terminal and/or 5‘ terminal internucleotide es can be a phosphorothioate or phosphoamidate. As used herein an internucleotide linkage is the e between nucleotides of the SSOMV and does not include the linkage between the 3' end nucleotide or 5' end nucleotide and a blocking substituent, In a specific embodiment the length of the SSOMV is between 21 and 55 PCT/U82014/029566 deoxynucleotides and the lengths of the homology regions are, accordingly, a total length of at least 20 deoxynucleotides and at least two homology regions should each have lengths of at least 8 deoxynucleotides.

The SSOMV can be designed to be complementary to either the coding or the non— coding strand of the target gene. When the desired mutation is a substitution of a single base, it is preferred that both the mutator nucleotide and the targeted nucleotide be a pyrimidine. To the extent that is consistent with achieving the desired onal result, it is preferred that both the mutator nucleotide and the targeted nucleotide in the complementary strand be dines. Particularly preferred are SSOMVS that encode transversion mutations, i.e., a C or T mutator nucleotide is mismatched, respectively, with a C or T nucleotide in the complementary strand.

Improving ency The present invention describes a number of approaches to increase the effectiveness of sion of a target gene using repair oligonucleotides, and which may be used alone or in combination with one another. These include: 1. ucing modifications to the repair oligonucleotides which attract DNA repair ery to the targeted (mismatch) site.

A. Introduction of one or more abasic sites in the oligonucleotide (e. g., within bases, and more preferably with 5 bases of the desired mismatch site) tes a lesion which is an intermediate in base excision repair (BER), and which attracts BER machinery to the vicinity of the site targeted for conversion by the repair oligonucleotide. dSpacer (abasic furan) modified oligonucleotides may be prepared as described in, for e, Takeshita et al., J. Biol. Chem, 262:10171—79, 1987.

B. Inclusion of compounds which induce single or double strand breaks, either into the oligonucleotide or together with the oligonucleotide, tes a lesion which is repaired by non-homologous end joining (NHEJ), microhomology-mediated end joining (MMEI), and homologous recombination. By way of example,the bleomycin family of antibiotics, zinc fingers, Fold (or any type 118 class of restriction enzyme) and other ses may be covalently coupled to the 3’ or 5’ end of repair oligonucleotides, in order to uce double strand breaks in the vicinity of the site targeted for conversion by the repair eligonucleotide. The bleomycin family of antibiotics are DNA cleaving glycopeptides e bleomycin, , phleomycin, tallysomycin, pepleomycin and others.

C. Introduction of one or more 8’oxo dA or dG incorporated in the oligonucleotide (e.g., within 10 bases, and more preferably with 5 bases of the desired mismatch site) tes a lesion which is similar to lesions created by reactive oxygen species. These lesions induce the so-called “pushing repair” system. See, e. g., Kim et al, , J. Biochem. Mol. Biol. 37:657—62, 2004. 2. Increase stability of the repair oligonucleotides: uction of a reverse base (idC) at the 3’ end of the oligonucleotide to create a 3’ blocked end on the repair oligonucleotide.

Introduction of one or more 2’O—methyl nucleotides or bases which increase hybridization energy (see, e.g., W02007/073 149) at the 5’ and/or 3’ of the repair oligonucleotide.

Introduction of a plurality of 2’O-methyl RNA nucleotides at the 5’ end of the repair oligonucleotide, leading into DNA bases which provide the d mismatch site, thereby creating an Okazaki Fragment—like c acid structure.

Conjugated (5’ or 3’) intercalating dyes such as acridine, psoralen, um bromide and Syber stains.

Introduction of a 5’ terminus cap such as a T/A clamp, a cholesterol , SIMA (HEX), riboC and amidite.

Backbone modifications such as phosphothioate, 2’—O methyl, methyl phosphonates, locked nucleic acid (LNA), MOE (methoxyethyl), di PS and peptide nucleic acid (PNA). inking of the repair oligrmucleotide, e.g., with intrastrand crosslinking reagents agents such as cisplatin and mitomycin C.

Conjugation with fluorescent dyes such as Cy3, DY547, Cy3.5, Cy3B, Cy5 and DY647.

PCT/U82014/029566 3. Increase hybridization energy of the repair oligrmucleotide h oration of bases which se hybridization energy (see, e.g., W02007/O73l49). 4. Increase the quality of repair oligonucleotide synthesis by using nucleotide multimers (dimers, trimers, tetranrers, etc.) as building blocks for sis. This results in fewer coupling steps and easier separation of the full length products from building blocks . Use of long repair cligcnucleotides (ire, greater than 55 nucleotides in length, preferably between 75 and 300 nucleotides in length, more preferably at least 100 nucleotides in length, still more preferably at least 150 nucleotides in , and most preferably at least 200 nucleotides in length), preferably with two or more mutations targeted in the repair oligonucleotide.

Examples of the foregoing approaches are provided in the following table Table 1. GRON chemistries to be tested.

Modifies: titans ’ mods ’l‘lri clamp T/A clamp Backbone modifications Phosphothioate PST tntercalating dyes 5' ine '3‘ idC Acridine, idC (Jitasaki fragments DNA/RNA CyS ements DY547 Facilitators 2013/12 oligos designed 5’ 2'0Me J and 3' 0f the convertingoligc Abasic Abasic site placed. in Abasic 2 various locati-Jns 5' and 3’ to the converting base. 44 trier Assist Assist approach C373, MC on one, none on Overlap: the other: 2 ofigos: 1 with Cylifidtj, l mum‘x‘iified repair cligo Assist Assist approach only make the umm‘xdifieri No p: olige 2 (aligns: l with Cyfl/idC, l. umnotlified repair oligo WO 44951 PCTfUSZOl4/029566 (Rig: iype Mmiifieafims Ahasic TH 1‘ site pinged in various "i.'etrahydmfumn (Lispacer') locations 5‘ and 3‘ m the. cumming basc. 44- mar Backbone catims 9 Z'GMe "frin‘mrs ’1‘3‘51716? amidiics, (7513. MC 1’11 311ng repair 8’0x0 CIA‘ 5 {7573, mi: Pushing repair 80:40 (EA, 5’ ij, MC Double Si‘rand break Bieomycin Croasijnker Cispiatin.

Cmssiinker E‘s/momycin C ilitat€>rs super bases 5' and 3' 0f ’3. amino (M. and ’2» (hit) i.‘ converting «Jiigo Super Uliges gamingr (3., 5‘ {1 r3, Mi Super 03 igos 12—330 T, 5' C313, idC Super oligos 7-deaza A, 5’ (138, MC r Uligos 74132123 85' Cy3, idC 811 my 011623131;: pmpanyl (KL 5’ {3373, MC Intercalating dyes 5‘ E’smal‘sm’? idC Psaraim, idC Intercalating dyes 5' Ethidium brannide Intercaiating (Eyes 5' Syber stains ' 3 5’ Chm/3‘ idC (Ibfiesterel Doubie mutation 1,0119, (digs (:3 90 bases} W/ {.Tnhl'mwn 2 mutation ' mods 5' SIM/K HEX/35$? SEMI-X HEX, idC Backbme modifications Methyi inhosphonazes Backham modifications {NA Backbone medifications ML‘E (mathe-xyethyl) PCTfUSZOl4/029566 (Riga type Modifications CyB repiacements Cy3 5 {3513 replacements; Cyfi Backbone rsuotiificatimrs di PS ' mods I i‘ihoC for branch inn Backbone modifications: E’NA (3:13 ements l {FIB-’1’} ' mods 5' branch symmetric branch amidite/idC The foregoing modifications may also include known nucleotide modifications such as ation, 5’ intercalating dyes, modifications to the 5’ and 3’ ends, backbone modifiications, crosslinkers, ation and 'caps‘ and substitution of one or more of the naturally occurring nucleotides with an analog such as e. Modifications of nucleotides include the addition of acridine, amine, , cascade blue, cholesterol, Cy3@, Cy5@, Cy5.5@ Daboyl, digoxigenin, dinitrophenyl, Edans, 6—FAM, fluorescein, 3‘- yl, HEX, IRD-700, lRD—SOO, JOE, phosphate psoralen,rhodan1ine, ROX, thiol (SH), spacers, TAMRA, TET, AMCA—S”, SE, BODIPY", Marina Blue@, Pacific Blue@, Oregon Green@, Rhodamine Green@, Rhodamine Red@, Rhodol Green@ and Texas Red@. Polynucleotide backbone modifications include methylphosphonate, 2'~OMe— methylphosphonate RNA, phosphorothiorate, RNA, 2'—OMeRNA, Base modifications include 2-amino—dA, 2—an1inopurine, 3‘— (ddA), 3'dA (cordycepin), 7—deaza—dA, 8—Br—dA, 8— oxo—dA, N6-Me—dA, abasic site (dSpacer), biotin dT, 2'—OMe-5Me-C, 2'~OMe— propynyl-C, 3'— (5—Me—dC), 3'- (ddC), 5~Br~dC, c, S-Me-dC, 5~F—dC, carboxy—dT, convertible dA, convertible dC, convertible dG, convertible dT, convertible dU, 7—deaza— dG, 8~Br—dG, 8— oxo-dG, 06—Me~dG, S6—DNP—dG, 4—methyl—indole, 5-nitroindole, 2'~ OMe—inosine, 2'—d1, 06— phenyl—dl, 4-methyl—indole, 2’—deoxynebularine, 5—nitroindole, 2— aminopurine, dP (purine analogue), dK idine analogue), 3—nitropyrrole, 2-thio-dT, 4—thio—dT, biotin-dT, carboxy—dT, 04-Me—dT, 04—triazol dT, 2'—OMe—propynyl—U, S—Br— dU, 2‘~dU, , 5—1—dU, azol dU. Said terms also encompass e nucleic acids (PNAs), a DNA analogue in which the backbone is a pseudopeptide consisting of N- (2—aminoethyl)—glycine units rather than a sugar. PNAs mimic the behavior of DNA PCT/U82014/029566 and bind mentary nucleic acid strands. The neutral backbone of PNA results in stronger binding and greater specificity than normally achieved. In addition, the unique chemical, physical and biological properties of PNA have been exploited to produce powerful biomolecular tools, antisense and antigene agents, molecular probes and biosensors.

Oligonucleobases may have nick(s), , modified nucleotides such as modified oligonucleotide backbones, abasic nucleotides, or other chemical moieties. In a further embodiment, at least one strand of the oligonucleobase es at least one additional modified nucleotide, e.g., a ethyl modified nucleotide such as a MOE (methoxyethyl), a nucleotide having a 5’—phosphorothioate group, a terminal nucleotide linked to a cholesteryl derivative, a 2'—deoxy—2’—fluoro ed nucleotide, a 2’-deoxy— modified nucleotide, a locked nucleotide, an abasic nucleotide (the nucleobase is missing or has a hydroxyl group in place thereof (see, e. g., Glen ch, http://www.glenresearch.com/GlenReports/GRZl ~14.html)), a 2’-amino—modified nucleotide, a 2’-alkyl—modified nucleotide, a morpholino nucleotide, a phosphoramidite, and a non-natural base comprising nucleotide. Various salts, mixed salts and free acid forms are also included.

Preferred modified oligonucleotide backbones include, for example, phosphorothioates, chiral phosphorothioates, phosphoro~dithioates, phosphotn‘esters, aminoalkylphosphotriesters, methyl and other alkyl phosphonates ing 3’—alkylene onates, ylene phosphonates and chiral phosphonates, phosphinates, phosphoramidates including 3’-amino phosphoramidate and aminoalkylphosphoramidates, thionophosphoramidates, thionoalkyl-phosphonates, thionoalkylphosphotriesters, selenophosphates and boranophosphates having normal 3’-5’ linkages, 2’-5’ linked analogs of these, and those having inverted polarity wherein one or more internucleotide es is a 3’ to 3’, 5’ to 5’ or 2' to 2’ linkage. Preferred oligonucleotides having inverted polarity comprise a single 3’ to 3’ linkage at the 3’—most internucleotide e Le. a single inverted side e which may be abasic (the nucleobase is missing or has a hydroxyl group in place thereof). The most common use of a linkage inversion is to add a 3‘-3‘ linkage to the end of an antisense oligonucleotide with a phosphorothioate backbone. The 3'—3' e further stabilizes the antisense oligonucleotide to exonuclease degradation by creating an oligonucleotide with two 5'— OH ends and no 3'—OH end. Linkage inversions can be introduced into ic locations W0 2014/144951 PCT/U82014/029566 during oligonucleotide synthesis through use of "reversed phosphoramidites”. These reagents have the phosphoramidite groups on the 5'~OH position and the dimethoxytrityl (DMT) protecting group on the 3'-OH position. Normally, the DMT protecting group is on the 5'-OH and the phosphoramidite is on the 3'~OH.

Examples of modified bases include, but are not d to, Z—aminopun'ne, 2’- amino—butyryl pyrene—uridine, 2’—aminouridine, 2’—deoxyuridine, ro-cytidine, 2’— fluoro-uridine, 2,6—diaminopurine, 4-thio-uridine, 5—bromo—un'dine, S-fluoro—cytidine, 5- fluorouridine, 5—indo—uridine, 5-methyl—cytidine, inosine, N3—methyl-un'dine, 7—deaza- guanine, 8~aminohexyl—amino—adenine, 6—thio—guanine, 4-thio-thymine, 2-thio~thymine, -uridine, 5—iodo-cytidine, 8-bromo—guanine, 8-bromo-adenine, 7-deaza—adenine, 7~ diaza—guanine, guanine, 5,6-dihydro-uridine, and 5—hydroxymethyl—uridine. These synthetic units are cially available; (for example, purchased from Glen Research Company) and can be incorporated into DNA by chemical synthesis.

Examples of modification of the sugar moiety are 3’~deoxylation, 2’— fluorination, and arabanosidation, however, it is not to be construed as being limited thereto. Incorporation of these into DNA is also possible by chemical synthesis.

Examples of the 5’ end modification are 5’~amination, 5’-biotinylation, 5’— fluoresceinylation, 5’—tetrafluoro—fluoreceinyaltion, 5’—thionation, and 5’—dabsylation, r it is not to be construed as being limited thereto.

] Examples of the 3’ end modification are 3’—amination, tinylation, 2,3- dideoxidation, 3’—thionation, 3’—dabsylation, 3’-carboxylation, and 3’~cholesterylation, r, it is not to be construed as being limited thereto.

In one preferred embodiment, the oligonucleobase can n a 5' blocking substituent that is ed to the 5' terminal carbons through a linker. The chemistry of the linker is not critical other than its length, which should preferably be at least 6 atoms long and that the linker should be flexible. A variety of non—toxic tuents such as biotin, cholesterol or other steroids or a non-intercalating cationic fluorescent dye can be used. Particularly preferred reagents to make oligonucleobases are the reagents sold as Cy3TM and Cy5TM by Glen Research, ng Va. (now GE Healthcare), which are blocked phosphoroamidites that upon incorporation into an oligonucleotide yield 3,3,3',3‘— tetramethyl N,N'-isopropyl tuted indomonocarbocyanine and indodicarbocyanine dyes, respectively. Cy3 is particularly preferred. When the indocarbocyanine is N— PCT/U82014/029566 oxyalkyl substituted it can be conveniently linked to the 5' terminal of the oligodeoxynucleotide as a phosphodiester with a 5‘ al phosphate. When the commercially available Cy3 phosphoramidite is used as directed, the resulting 5' modification consists of a blocking substituent and linker together which are a N hydroxypropyl, N'-phosphatidylpropyl 3,3,3',3'~tetramethy1indomonocarbocyanine.

Other dyes contemplated include Rhodamine6G, Tetramethylrhodamine, Sulforhodamine lOl, Merocyanine 540, Att0565, AttoSSO 26, Cy3.5, Dy547, Dy548, Dy549, Dy554, Dy555, Dy556, Dy560, mStrawberry and mCherry.

In a preferred embodiment the indocarbocyanine dye is tetra tuted at the 3 and 3‘ ons of the indole rings. Without limitations as to theory these substitutions t the dye from being an intercalating dye. The identity of the substituents at these ons is not critical.

The oligo designs herein described might also be used as more efficient donor templates in combination with other DNA editing or ination technologies including, but not limited to, gene targeting using site-specific homologous recombination by zinc finger nucleases, Transcription Activator—Like Effector Nucleases (TALENs) or Clustered Regularly paced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPRs).

The present invention generally relates to methods for the efficient modification of genomic cellular DNA and/or recombination of DNA into the genomic DNA of cells. Although not limited to any particular use, the methods of the present ion are useful in, for example, introducing a modification into the genome of a cell for the purpose of determining the effect of the modification on the cell. For example, a cation may be introduced into the nucleotide sequence which encodes an enzyme to determine r the modification alters the enzymatic activity of the enzyme, and/or determine the location of the enzyme‘s catalytic region. Alternatively, the modification may be introduced into the coding sequence of a DNA—binding protein to determine whether the DNA binding activity of the protein is altered, and thus to delineate the particular nding region within the n. Yet r ative is to introduce a modification into a non—coding regulatory sequence (e.g., promoter, enhancer, regulatory RNA sequence (miRNA), etc.) in order to determine the effect of the modification on the level of expression of a second sequence which is operably linked to the non—coding regulatory sequence. This may be desirable to, for example, define the ular sequence which possesses regulatory activity.

PCT/USZOI4/029566 One strategy for producing targeted gene disruption is h the generation of single strand or double strand DNA breaks caused by site—specific endonucleases.

Endonucleases are most often used for targeted gene disruption in organisms that have traditionally been refractive to more conventional gene targeting methods, such as algae, plants, and large animal , including humans. For example, there are currently human clinical trials underway involving zinc finger nucleases for the treatment and prevention of HIV infection. Additionally, clease engineering is currently being used in attempts to t genes that e undesirable ypes in crops.

] The homing endonucleases, also known as meganucleases, are sequence specific endonucleases that generate double strand breaks in genomic DNA with a high degree of specificity due to their large (e.g., >14 bp) cleavage sites. While the specificity of the homing endonucleases for their target sites allows for precise targeting of the induced DNA breaks, homing endonuclease cleavage sites are rare and the ility of finding a naturally occurring cleavage site in a targeted gene is low.

One class of artificial endonucleases is the zinc finger endonucleases. Zinc finger endonucleases combine a non—specific ge domain, typically that of Fold endonuclease, with zinc finger protein domains that are engineered to bind to specific DNA sequences. The modular structure of the zinc finger endonucleases makes them a versatile platform for delivering site—specific double—strand breaks to the genome. One limitation of the zinc finger endonucleases is that low specificity for a target site or the presence of multiple target sites in a genome can result in off-target cleavage events. As Fold endonuclease s as a dimer, one strategy to prevent off-target cleavage events has been to design zinc finger domains that bind at nt 9 base pair sites. [001.963] TALENs are targetable nucleases are used to induce single— and double—strand breaks into ic DNA sites, which are then repaired by mechanisms that can be exploited to create sequence alterations at the cleavage site.

The fundamental ng block that is used to engineer the DNA—binding region of TALENs is a highly conserved repeat domain derived from naturally occurring TALES encoded by Xanthomonas spp. proteobacteria. DNA binding by a TALEN is mediated by arrays of highly conserved 33~35 amino acid repeats that are flanked by additional TALE-derived domains at the amino—terminal and carboxy—terminal ends of the repeats.

PCT/U82014/029566 ] These TALE repeats specifically bind to a single base of DNA, the identity of which is determined by two hypervariable es typically found at positions 12 and 13 of the repeat, with the number of repeats in an array ponded to the length of the desired target nucleic acid, the identity of the repeat selected to match the target nucleic acid sequence. The target nucleic acid is preferably between 15 and 20 base pairs in order to maximize selectivity of the target site. Cleavage of the target nucleic acid typically occurs within 50 base pairs of TALEN binding. Computer programs for TALEN ition site design have been described in the art. See, e.g., Cermak et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 2011 July; 39(12): 682.

Once designed to match the desired target sequence, TALENS can be expressed recombinantly and introduced into lasts as exogenous ns, or expressed from a plasmid within the protoplast.

Another class of artificial endonucleases is the engineered meganucleases.

Engineered homing endonucleases are ted by modifying the specificity of existing homing endonucleases. In one approach, variations are introduced in the amino acid sequence of naturally occurring homing endonucleases and then the resultant engineered homing endonucleases are screened to select functional proteins which cleave a targeted binding site. In another approach, chimeric homing endonucleases are engineered by combining the recognition sites of two different homing endonucleases to create a new recognition site composed of a half— site of each homing endonuclease.

Other DNA-modifying molecules may be used in targeted gene ination. For example, peptide nucleic acids may be used to induce modifications to the genome of the target cell or cells (see, e. g., US. Pat. No. 5,986,053, to Ecker, herein incorporated by reference). In brief, synthetic tides comprising, at least, a partial peptide backbone are used to target a homologous genomic nucleotide sequence.

Upon binding to the double—helical DNA, or through a mutagen d to the peptide nucleic acid, modification of the target DNA sequence and/or recombination is induced to take place. Targeting specificity is determined by the degree of sequence homology between the targeting sequence and the genomic sequence.

Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the ular s which are used herein to execute cation of genomic sequences. Indeed, a number of methods are contemplated. For example, genes may be targeted using triple helix PCT/U82014/029566 forming oligonucleotides (TFO). TFOS may be generated tically, for example, by PCR or by use of a gene synthesizer apparatus. onally, TFOS may be isolated from genomic DNA if suitable natural sequences are found. TFOs may be used in a number of ways, including, for example, by tethering to a mutagen such as, but not limited to, psoralen or chlorambucil (see, e.g., Havre et al., Proc Nat’l Acad Sci, U.S.A. 9017879— 7883, 1993; Havre et al., J Virol 67:7323—7331, 1993; Wang et al., Mol Cell Biol :1759—1768, 1995; Takasugi et al., Proc Nat’l Acad Sci, USA. 88:5602—5606, 1991; Belousov eta1., Nucleic Acids Res 25234403444, 1997). Furthermore, for example, TFOs may be tethered to donor duplex DNA (see, e.g., Chan et al., J Biol Chem 272: 1 1541—1 1548, 1999). TFOS can also act by binding with sufficient affinity to provoke error—prone repair (Wang et al., Science 271:802—805, 1996).

The invention's s are not limited to the nature or type of DNA— modifying reagent which is used. For example, such DNA—modifying reagents release radicals which result in DNA strand breakage. Alternatively, the reagents alkylate DNA to form adducts which would block replication and transcription. In another alternative, the reagents generate crosslinks or les that inhibit ar s leading to strand breaks. Examples of DNA-modifying reagents which have been linked to ucleotides to form TFOs include, but are not limited to, indolocarbazoles, napthalene diimide (NDI), latin, bleomycin, analogues of cyclopropapyrroloindole, and phenanthodihydrodioxins. In particular, indolocarbazoles are topoisomerase I inhibitors. Inhibition of these enzymes results in strand breaks and DNA protein adduct formation [Arimondo et al., Bioorganic and Medicinal Chem. 8, 777, 2000]. NDI is a photooxidant that can oxidize guanines which could cause mutations at sites of e es [Nunez, et al., Biochemistry, 39, 6190, 2000]. Transplatin has been shown to react with DNA in a triplex target when the TFO is linked to the reagent. This reaction causes the formation of DNA adducts which would be mutagenic [Columbier, et al., Nucleic Acids Research, 24: 4519, 1996]. Bleomycin is a DNA breaker, widely used as a radiation mimetic. It has been linked to ucleotides and shown to be active as a breaker in that format [Sergeyev, Nucleic Acids ch 23, 4400, 1995; Kane, et al., Biochemistry, 34, 16715, 1995]. Analogues of cyclopropapyrroloindole have been linked to TFOs and shown to alkylate DNA in a x target sequence. The alkylated DNA would then contain chemical adducts which would be mutagenic [Lukhtanov, et al., Nucleic Acids Research, 25, 5077, 1997]. Phenanthodihydrodioxins are masked quinones 2014/029566 that release radical species upon photoactivation. They have been linked to TFOs and have been shown to introduce breaks into duplex DNA on ctivation nskas et al., Bioconjugate Chem. 9, 555, 1998].

] Other methods of ng modifications and/or recombination are contemplated by the present invention. For example, another embodiment involves the induction of homologous ination between an exogenous DNA fragment and the targeted gene (see e.g., Capecchi et al., e 88—1292, 1989) or by using peptide nucleic acids (PNA) with affinity for the targeted site. Still other methods include sequence specific DNA recognition and ing by polyamides (see e. g., Dervan et al., Curr Opin Chem Biol 3:688—693, 1999; Biochemistry 382143-2151, 1999) and the use nucleases with site specific activity (e. g., zinc finger proteins, TALENs, Meganucleases and/or CRISPRS).

The present invention is not limited to any particular frequency of modification and/or recombination. The ion's methods result in a frequency of modification in the target nucleotide sequence of from 0.2% to 3%. Nonetheless, any frequency (i.e., between 0% and 100%) of modification and/or recombination is contemplated to be within the scope of the present invention. The frequency of modification and/or recombination is dependent on the method used to induce the modification and/or recombination, the cell type used, the specific gene targeted and the DNA mutating reagent used, if any. Additionally, the method used to detect the cation and/or recombination, due to limitations in the detection method, may not detect all occurrences of modification and/or recombination. Furthermore, some modification and/or recombination events may be , giving no detectable indication that the modification and/or recombination has taken place. The inability to detect silent modification and/or recombination events gives an artificially low estimate of modification and/or recombination. Because of these reasons, and others, the invention is not limited to any ular modification and/or recombination frequency. In one embodiment, the frequency of modification and/or recombination is between 0.01% and 100%. In another embodiment, the frequency of modification and/or recombination is between 0.01% and 50%. In yet r embodiment, the frequency of modification and/or recombination is between 0.1% and 10%. In still yet another embodiment, the frequency of modification and/or recombination is between 0.1% and 5%.

PCTfUSZOl4/029566 The term “frequency of mutation” as used herein in reference to a population of cells which are d with a DNA—modifying molecule that is capable of introducing a mutation into a target site in the cells' genome, refers to the number of cells in the treated population which n the mutation at the target site as compared to the total number of cells which are treated with the DNA-modifying molecule. For e, with respect to a population of cells which is treated with the DNA—modifying molecule TFO tethered to psoralen which is designed to introduce a mutation at a target site in the cells' genome, a frequency of mutation of 5% means that of a total of 100 cells which are treated with TFO—psoralen, 5 cells contain a on at the target site.

Although the present invention is not limited to any degree of precision in the cation and/or recombination of DNA in the cell, it is contemplated that some embodiments of the present invention require higher degrees of precision, depending on the desired result For example, the specific sequence changes required for gene repair (e.g, particular base s) require a higher degree of ion as compared to producing a gene knockout wherein only the disruption of the gene is necessary. With the methods of the present invention, achievement of higher levels of ion in modification and/or homologous recombination techniques is greater than with prior art methods. ry of Gene Repair Oligonucleobases into Plant Cells Any commonly known method used to transform a plant cell can be used for delivering the gene repair oligonucleobases. Illustrative s are listed below. The present invention contemplates many methods to transfect the cells with the DNA— modifying reagent or reagents. Indeed, the present invention is not limited to any particular method. Methods for the introduction of DNA modifying reagents into a cell or cells are well known in the art and include, but are not limited to, microinjection, electroporation, passive tion, calcium phosphate~DNA co-precipitation, DEAE— dextran—mediated transfection, polybrene—mediated ection, liposome fusion, lipofectin, nucleofection, protoplast fusion, retroviral infection, biolistics (i.e., particle bombardment) and the like.

The use of metallic microcarriers (microspheres) for introducing large fragments of DNA into plant cells having ose cell walls by projectile penetration is well known to those skilled in the nt art (henceforth biolistic delivery). U.S. Pat.

Nos. 4,945,050; 5,100,792 and 5,204,253 describe general techniques for selecting microcarriers and devices for projecting them.

Specific conditions for using microcarriers in the methods of the present ion are described in ational Publication WO 99/07865. In an illustrative technique, ice cold microcarriers (60 mg/mL), mixed duplex oligonucleotide (60 mg/mL) 2.5 M CaClz and 0.1 M spermidine are added in that order; the mixture gently agitated, e. g., by vortexing, for 10 s and then left at room temperature for 10 minutes, whereupon the microcarriers are diluted in 5 volumes of ethanol, fuged and resuspended in 100% ethanol. Good results can be obtained with a concentration in the adhering solution of 8—10 ug/uL arriers, 14~17 ug/mL mixed duplex oligonucleotide, 1.1—1.4 M CaClz and 18—22 111M dine. Optimal results were observed under the conditions of 8 ug/uL microcarn'ers, 16.5 ug/mL mixed duplex oligonucleotide, 1.3 M CaClz and 21 mM dine.

Gene repair oligonucleobases can also be uced into plant cells for the ce of the present invention using microfibers to penetrate the cell wall and cell membrane. US. Pat. No. 5,302,523 to Coffee et a1 describes the use of silicon carbide fibers to facilitate transformation of suspension maize cultures of Black Mexican Sweet.

Any mechanical technique that can be used to introduce DNA for transformation of a plant cell using microfibers can be used to deliver gene repair ucleobases for transmutation.

An illustrative que for microfiber delivery of a gene repair oligonucleobase is as follows: Sterile microfibers (2 ug) are suspended in 150 uL of plant culture medium containing about 10 ug of a mixed duplex oligonucleotide. A suspension culture is allowed to settle and equal volumes of packed cells and the sterile fiber/nucleotide suspension are vortexed for 10 minutes and plated. Selective media are applied immediately or with a delay of up to about 120 h as is appropriate for the particular trait.

In an alternative embodiment, the gene repair oligonucleobases can be delivered to the plant cell by electroporation of a protoplast derived from a plant part.

The protoplasts are formed by enzymatic treatment of a plant part, particularly a leaf, ing to techniques well known to those skilled in the art. See, e.g., s et a1, 1996, in Methods in Molecular Biology 55189-107, Humana Press, Totowa, N.J.; Kipp et al., 1999, in Methods in Molecular Biology 133:213-221, Humana Press, Totowa, NJ.

The protoplasts need not be cultured in growth media prior to electroporation. Illustrative conditions for electroporation are 3. times.10. sup.5 protoplasts in a total volume of 0.3 mL with a concentration of gene repair oligonucleobase of between 0.6—4 ug/mL.

In an alternative ment, nucleic acids are taken up by plant protoplasts in the presence of the membrane—modifying agent polyethylene , according to techniques well known to those skilled in the art. In another alternative embodiment, the gene repair oligonucleobases can be delivered by injecting it with a microcapillary into plant cells or into protoplasts.

In an alternative embodiment, nucleic acids are embedded in microbeads composed of calcium alginate and taken up by plant protoplasts in the presence of the membrane—modifying agent hylene glycol (see, e.g., Sone et al., 2002, Liu et al., 2004).

] In an alternative embodiment, nucleic acids forzen in water and introduced into plant cells by bombardment in the form of microparticles (see, e.g., e, 1991, US. Patent 5,219,746; ar et al.).

In an alternative embodiment, nucleic acids attached to nanoparticles are uced into intact plant cells by incubation of the cells in a suspension ning the nanoparticlethe (see, e.g., Pasupathy et al., 2008) or by delivering them into intact cells through particle bomardment or into protoplasts by coincubation (see, e.g., Tomey et al., 2007).

In an alternative embodiment, nucleic acids complexed with penetrating peptides and delivered into cells by co-incubation (see, e.g., Chugh et al., 2008, WO 2008148223 A1; Eudes and Chugh.

In an alternative embodiment, nucleic acids are introduced into intact cells through electroporation (see, e.g., He et al., 1998, US 2003/0115641 Al, Dobres et al.).

In an alternative ment, nucleic acids are delivered into cells of dry embryos by soaking them in a solution with nucleic acids (by soaking dry embryos in (see, e.g., Tepfer etal., 1989, tna et al., 1991 ).

] Selection of Plants PCT/U82014/029566 In various embodiments, plants as disclosed herein can be of any species of dicotyledonous, monocotyledonous or gymnospermous plant, including any woody plant species that grows as a tree or shrub, any herbaceous species, or any species that produces edible fruits, seeds or vegetables, or any species that produces colorful or aromatic . For example, the plant maybe selected from a species of plant from the group consisting of canola, sunflower, corn, tobacco, sugar beet, cotton, maize, wheat, barley, rice, alfafa, barley, sorghum, tomato, mango, peach, apple, pear, strawberry, banana, melon, , carrot, e, onion, soy bean, soya spp, sugar cane, pea, ea, field pea, faba bean, lentils, turnip, ga, brussel sprouts, lupin, ower, kale, field beans, poplar, pine, eucalyptus, grape, citrus, triticale, alfalfa, rye, oats, turf and forage grasses, flax, oilseed rape, d, cucumber, morning glory, balsam, pepper, eggplant, marigold, lotus, cabbage, daisy, carnation, tulip, iris, lily, and nut producing plants insofar as they are not already specifically mentioned.

Plants and plant cells can be tested for resistance or tolerance to an herbicide using commonly known methods in the art, e. g., by growing the plant or plant cell in the presence of an herbicide and ing the rate of growth as compared to the growth rate in the absence of the herbicide.

As used , substantially normal growth of a plant, plant organ, plant tissue or plant cell is defined as a growth rate or rate of cell division of the plant, plant organ, plant tissue, or plant cell that is at least 35%, at least 50%, at least 60%, or at least 75% of the growth rate or rate of cell division in a corresponding plant, plant organ, plant tissue or plant cell expressing the wild-type AHAS protein.

As used herein, substantially normal development of a plant, plant organ, plant tissue or plant cell is defined as the occurrence of one or more development events in the plant, plant organ, plant tissue or plant cell that are substantially the same as those occurring in a corresponding plant, plant organ, plant tissue or plant cell expressing the ype protein.

] In certain embodiments plant organs provided herein include, but are not limited to, leaves, stems, roots, vegetative buds, floral buds, ems, embryos, cotyledons, endosperm, sepals, petals, pistils, carpels, stamens, anthers, microspores, pollen, pollen tubes, ovules, ovaries and fruits, or sections, slices or discs taken therefrom. Plant tissues include, but are not limited to, callus s, ground tissues, PCT/U82014/029566 vascular tissues, storage tissues, meristematic tissues, leaf tissues, shoot tissues, root tissues, gall tissues, plant tumor tissues, and reproductive tissues. Plant cells include, but are not limited to, isolated cells with cell walls, variously sized aggregates thereof, and protoplasts.

Plants are substantially "tolerant" to a relevant herbicide when they are subjected to it and provide a dose/response curve which is shifted to the right when compared with that provided by similarly subjected non-tolerant like plant. Such dose/response curves have "dose" d on the X—axis and "percentage kill", "herbicidal effect", etc., plotted on the y-axis. Tolerant plants will require more herbicide than non— nt like plants in order to produce a given herbicidal effect. Plants that are substantially "resistant" to the herbicide exhibit few, if any, necrotic, lytic, chlorotic or other lesions, when subjected to herbicide at concentrations and rates which are typically employed by the agrochemical community to kill weeds in the field. Plants which are resistant to an herbicide are also tolerant of the herbicide.

] Generation of plants Tissue culture of various s of plant species and regeneration of plants therefrom is known. For e, the propagation of a canola cultivar by tissue culture is described in any of the following but not limited to any of the following: Chuong et al., "A Simple Culture Method for Brassica hypocotyls Protoplasts," Plant Cell Reports 4:4— 6, 1985; Barsby, T. L., et al., "A Rapid and Efficient Alternative Procedure for the Regeneration of Plants from Hypocotyl lasts of Brassica napus," Plant Cell Reports (Spring, 1996); Kartha, K., et al., "In vitro Plant Formation from Stem Explants of Rape," Physiol. Plant, 31:217—220, 1974; Narasimhulu, S., eta1., "Species Specific Shoot Regeneration Response of Cotyledonary Explants of Brassicas,” Plant Cell s (Spring 1988); n, E., "Microspore Culture in Brassica," Methods in Molecular y, Vol. 6, Chapter 17, p. 159, 1990.

Further reproduction of the variety can occur by tissue culture and ration. Tissue culture of various tissues of ns and regeneration of plants therefrom is well known and widely published. For example, reference may be had to Komatsuda, T. et al., "Genotype X Sucrose ctions for Somatic Embryogenesis in Soybeans," Crop Sci. 31:333-337, 1991; Stephens, P. A., et al., "Agronomic Evaluation of Tissue~Culture-Derived Soybean ," Theor. Appl. Genet. 82:633—635, 1991; PCT/U52014/029566 Komatsuda, T. et a1., "Maturation and Germination of Somatic Embryos as Affected by e and Plant Growth Regulators in Soybeans Glycine gracilis Skvortz and Glycine max (L.) Merr." Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture, —113, 1992; Dhir, S. et al., "Regeneration of Fertile Plants from Protoplasts of Soybean ne max L. Merr.); Genotypic Differences in Culture Response," Plant Cell Reports 11:285—289, 1992; Pandey, P. et al., "Plant Regeneration from Leaf and Hypocotyl Explants of e Wightii (W. and A.) VERDC. var. longicauda," Japan J. Breed. 42:1-5, 1992; and Shetty, K., et al., lation of In Vitro Shoot Organogenesis in Glycine max (Merrill) by Allantoin and Amides," Plant e 81245251, 1992. The disclosures of US. Pat.

No. 5,024,944 issued Jun. 18, 1991 to s et al., and US Pat. No. 5,008,200 issued Apr. 16, 1991 to Ranch et al., are hereby orated herein in their entirety by reference.

EXAMPLES Example 1: GRON length Sommer et 211., (M01 Biotechnol. 33: 1 1522, 2006) bes a reporter system for the detection of in viva gene conversion which relies upon a single nucleotide change to convert between blue and green fluorescence in green fluorescent protein (GFP) variants. This reporter system was adapted for use in the following experiments using Arabidopsis thaliana as a model s in order to assess efficiency of GRON conversion following modification of the GRON length.

In short, for this and the subsequent examples an Arabidopsis line with multiple copies of a blue fluorescent protein gene was created by methods known to those skilled in the art (see, e. g., Clough and Brent, 1998). Root—derived meristematic tissue cultures were established with this line, which was used for protoplast isolation and culture (see, e.g., Mathur et al., 1995). GRON delivery into protoplasts was achieved through hylene glycol (PEG) mediated GRON uptake into protoplasts. A method using a 96-well format, similar to that described by similar to that described by Fujiwara and Kato (2007) was used. In the following the protocol is briefly described. The volumes given are those applied to individual wells of a 96-well dish.

PCT/USZOI4/029566 1. Mix 6.25 ul of GRON (80 uM) with 25 ul of Arabidopsis BFP transgenic root meristematic —derived protoplasts at 5x106 cells/ml in each well of a 96 well plate. 2. 31.25 ul of a 40% PEG solution was added and the protoplasts were mixed. 3. Treated cells were incubated on ice for 30 min. 4. To each well 200 pl of W5 solution was added and the cells mixed. 5. The plates were allowed to incubate on ice for 30 min allowing the protoplasts to settle to the bottom of each well. 6. 200 pl of the medim above the settled protoplasts was removed. 7. 85 ul of culture medium (MSAP, see Mathur et al., 1995) was added. 8. The plates were incubated at room temperate in the dark for 48 hours. The final concentration of GRON after adding culture medium is 8 uM.

Forty eight hours after GRON delivery samples were ed by flow cytometry in order to detect protoplasts whose green and yellow fluorescence is different from that of control protoplasts (BFPO indicates non—targeting GRONs with no change compared to the BFP target; C is the coding strand design and NC is the non—coding strand design). A single C to T nucleotide difference (coding ) or G to A nucleotide targeted mutation (non~coding strand) in the center of the BFP4 molecules. The green fluorescence is caused by the introduction of a targeted mutation in the EFF gene, resulting in the sis of GFP. The s are shown in Figure 1.

The following table shows the sequence of exemplary r and 201—mer C 5’—3PS/ 3’—3PS GRONs designed for the conversion of a blue fluorescent protein (BFP) gene to green fluorescence. (3P8 tes 3 phosphothioate linkages at each of the 5’ and 3’ oligo ends). {98213} Table I: TAG GTC \AG me G‘. c- Abe AGG GTG GGC CAG her: ACG GGC AGC TTG COG III/II/(t/(tIItI(I/lttlt( TGG GTGAAG GTG G'EC‘. AC‘GA 36 1TGC36C CAG GUC‘ AC6 GGC‘. AGC‘. 1"IG CCCE \ ’21“ch{\JCCC‘ r \\«\\\\\\\\\\.\«\.\\\\\\\. r:, riCrCC§C.'I"C‘C‘.'ICxCxA 3CCAT-CGCC‘C‘T' BT50NC m \ z,»»»u»»;:»~, ' , t. (.TGG, ICC‘1I‘CAI’VCC?1CCrCCaCrAGCGC.C’IC3AAGC C‘1I(JC’JGGTGGIC‘vCACEA1GAAC’ITCAGGG'1CAGrhrnuru‘”,«am'54mza,r.1t4”air/nnntnunaru”(nu/«nurfln GCAAGC. .'. G’C CCGTC: CC‘'I‘CC)GCC‘C ACCC CG'l‘GACCAC‘CI"1‘CAC‘C‘TACGGCG’I‘GCAGTGC‘ T'I'CAGCCGC'I'ACCCCCACCACA GAAGCAGCACGAC"I‘TCTCI'CAAG'I‘C‘CGCCA'I’GCCCGA GC.‘.AAGC‘EGCC‘L(:TCICC‘CTU'ECCCZACCCTCCJ-TCIACCAC‘CTTC‘ACC‘C‘".\((rhC‘GTCIC/ACITGC' ETCAGCCGCVIAU-"KEG.ACCACA 'GAAGC‘ACCACGAC'ImCETCAAG'ICCGCCATGCCC‘GA AGGCI‘ACGTCCAGGA G“"CAC-L-A1‘*C *T trlrrlr(rtr((I//IIrr1r(/rt/(tzzoztt(tr C““x““““\-““w.‘“C“CC“C\v~~~x.~»~~~w~\C““C“CM“CCCC“Cm‘CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC“w“x“C\~xxw»“w\~»C~w\C»wCwCC“““C~““\“““~““»““~C»~\~~wC»»“w“v“CC“C“C»\“““~““~“~““»~~\~» : PS linkagii (phosphothioate) Elma-333391:12 {femersien rsizes am31g 53(33'3/ S’EdC Eabeied GRONS [$3.214] The purpose of this series of experiments is. to camp-are {he efficiencies of phosphothieate (PS) labeled GRONS (having 3 PS meieiies at each end of the GRCEN) to the.‘S’Cv3.’ 3MC labeled C_3RC)NS 3‘he. 5’(.y 3,’ L"idC d GRONS have a 5* Cy3 ore (amidiie) and a 3’ id(_. reverse base. Efficiency W'18 assessed using cenversien 0f blue fluereseent protein (BF?) to green fluorescence [CECEZISE In all three experiments, done either by PEG ry of GRONS into protoplasts In individual Falcen tubes (labeled ”Tubes“? or In 96-well plates (labeled “96- we}. dish ’,_) there \ 'as no significant ence between the ent GRON chemistries in B??? to GT"? conversion eney as. ined by cy‘temetry (Fig. 1) .

Exampie 3: Comparison between the 414318;“ BFPMNC SKSPS/ 3’—3PS GRC)N and Gkazaki Fragment GRONS £80216] ’I’he puz‘poee of this series 0f experiments is to eempare the conversion efficiencies of the phosphot’hioate (PS) labeled GRONS with BPS moieties at each end of U} \C SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) the GRON to “Okazaki fragment GRONs” in the presence and e of a member of the bleomycin family, ZeocinTM (1 mg/ml) to induce DNA breaks. The design of these GRONs are depicted in Fig. 2. GRONs were delivered into Arabidopsis BFP protoplasts by PEG treatment and BFP to GFP conversion was determined at 24 h post treatment by cytometry. Samples treated with zeocin (1 mg/ml) were incubated with zeocin for 90 min on ice prior to PEG treatment.

In general the presence of zeocin (1 mg/ml) increased BFP to GFP conversion as determined by cytometry (Table 2). In both the presence and absence of , the NC i GRON containing one 2’—O Me group on the first RNA base at the 5’ end of the GRON was more efficacious at converting BFP to GFP when compared to the NC Okazaki GRON containing one 2’~O Me group on each of the first nine 5’ RNA bases (Fig. 2 and Table 2).

In all experiments, there was no significant difference between the 41—mer BFP4/NC 5’3PS/ 3’3PS and the 71—mer Okazaki Fragment BFP4/NC GRON that contains one 5’ 2’-O me group on the first 5’ RNA base (denoted as BFP4 71—mer (1) NC) in BFP to GFP conversion in both the presence or absence of 1 mg/ml of zeocin as determined by cytometry (Fig. 2 and Table 2). It is important to note that in the presence of zeocin (and ed for bleomycin, phleomycin, tallysornycin, pepleomycin and other members of this family of antibiotics) that sion becomes strand independent (i.e., both C and NC GRONs with the designs tested in these experiments display approximately equal activity).

PCT/USZOl4/029566 @8219] Table 2: Comparison of a standard GRON design with ki fragment GRON designs in the presence ami absence of a glyeopeptigie mic zcecin.

Zeoein (4-) O8365 0{£094‘ 0.0487") 0.001414 0.024749 0001061 0.034505 0.001 9.017503 Exampie 4: Comparison between me flumerg ‘ifilumer and ZTELmer BFPMNC 5" 3P8! 3’u3E’S GRONS {902216} The purpose 01‘ this series of ments was. to compare the conversion efficiencies (in The presence and absence of zeocin) of the phosphothioam (PS) labeled GRONS with 398 moieties at each end. of the GRON of different lengths: LEI—men 101— mer and ZUL-mer Shawn in Table 1. Again, the presence of zeocin (1 mg/ml) increased BEE-P to GP"? cmwersien rates as determined by cytometry (Table ‘3). “The evmieli trend in all three expeximeni’s was linear with sing NC GRON length in both the ce and absence of leech}. Except for the BFPA‘LEr/N 3/101 and BFP-4ICI101 in the presence of zeecin, this. had convereion rates that were dose in {aqua}. but iewer than the 414110}: NC GRON. This is in contrast to ali us experiments in which [he EFF—4M] coding and SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) 2014/029566 mm-ccsding GRONS were. useda wherein the non-coding was. always far superior to the coding GRON. This asymmetry in sien frequency 2118.0 applies to the EFF-41’3” GRONS used in this experimental series. [@9221] Tame 3; Zeocin (‘1‘) 0.9’7 0245 AP:043 ; AP1"066 Mean B11134 ‘2’)1—‘mc: 2mm“ : ms 8:11 CV 00117193 (3.0021213 424 C).(‘-11555630.’1OI+'~QU 3 SE 00395044-9 0.0015002 0.0557584 0.0110017 0,00325 ’ . .\ \_.. ‘: 1 [8132.22 Exampfie S: CR‘iSP‘Rs combined with GRONS to inxlprove conversion in plants. [00223;] Three design con'lponents must be. considered when assembling a CRISPR complex: Casg, gRNA (guide RNA) and the large! region (prom—spacer in endogemus target gene).

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) Cas 9 — Transient expression of Cas9 gene from Streptococcus pyogenes codon optimized for opsis or corn driven by 358 or corn ubiquidn respectively. Optimized genes synthesized by Genewiz or DNA 2.0. NB must ensure no cryptic introns are created.

- RBCSE9 terminator as per G1155 — Single SV4O NLS (PKKRKV) as a C-terminal fusion — The vector backbone would be as per ail our ent expression systems — G1 155. gRNA — Propose to use a chimeric trachNA — pre—creRNA as per Le Cong et al., 2013 and Jinek et al., 2013. Note that LeCong et al. showed that the native full length tracr + pre—chNA complex d much more ntly than the chimeric version. An option therefore would be to make a chimera using the full length (89bp) trachNA. - Sequence of gRNA ( (N)2o represents guide sequence). The bracketed sequence comprises the full length 89bp form.

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN-NN(‘x'l"l"l"FAGA(liTl’iflie’MAFI‘hGiMAGTTAAAATA .MIKRQT’FPKi'i‘fltTCEH‘A’i’(‘y’i"i"(f’l,“§'(iAAAAAAG’E‘GA‘. i’E‘G(SCACCGAG'I’CGG’I‘GG'I‘II } (I’I'i "F3 “H '1 Figure 3 uced from Cong et al., shows the native complex and the chimera.

[Text continued on page 64] 2014/029566 — "{‘he gRNA would he expressed under the AtUo RNA poi Ill promoter in Arabidopsis (sequence given below). in com the ZmUo RNA pol HI promoter could be used.

These choices are based on, Wang e: (27!. 2008.

— RBCSEQ terminator as per G] 155 or a string of T’s as: per \Vang e: a]. 2,013 and the onesemponeni approach shown below.

At U6 promoter ce from Wang at as! {9822?} Target region ‘ The guide sequence Specificity is defined by the target region sequence. lorespective of the choice. of model organism this will be the YooH locus of BFP. A PAM (NGG) sequence in the Vicinity of we}: is the only design restriction. Also, including the yam position in the '3’ 12m of the guide sequence (“seed ce”) would mean that once repair has been achieved the Site will. not get re‘out.

Tc gig ace ace to: ace cae ggc VTTFTY 61 6'2 63 64 65 .66 67 A distinct vector backbone from (31155 will be needed in order to enable eo— defivery of C2189 and gRNA. This problem will be circumvented with the one—eomyonem One component approacl'l [{NlZBQ] Le Cong e! a}. (2013:) used a simplified approach, expressing both the gRNA and the. {3339 as a single transient eonstmct, driven by the pol 1H U6 er, as outlined below. In this. way, for a. given crop, multiple genes eoutd be targeted by Simply swapping in the guide insert sequence. We would replace the EF1e er for one suitable. for the crop (pMAS for At, Ubi for 2113'). For the terminator we would use.

RBCSEQ. The N15 used in plants. would be a Single C—terminal SVr‘lO as outlined above.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) Note that in the construct below a truncated gRNA is used where the tracer RNA region is not included. The authors showed that in humans that this was less effective at guiding the Cas9 that the full length version. It is therefore proposed that the full length gRNA to be used here. Notably in a subsequent paper using CRISPRs in yeast, o et al. (2013) used the full length version. The te would be cloned into a G1 15 5 background.

Figur 4 shows a schematic of the expression vector for chimeric chNA. The guide sequence can be inserted between two Bbsl sites using annealed ucleotides. The vector already contains the partial direct repeat (gray) and partial trachNA (red) sequences. WPRE, Woodchuck hepatitis virus post transcriptional regulatory t.

In Vivo assay Transient option — One approach to confirm target recognition and nuclease activity in planta would be to emulate the YFP single stranded annealing assay which Zhang et al. (2013) used for TALENs. The spacer sequence (target sequence) plus PAM would need to be inserted into the YFP or equivalent gene.

— Transient option — The TALEN - BFP system could be used as a control.

- Whilst the above approach would be an on—going tool for confirming functionality of a given CRISPR system for a given spacer sequence, proof of t of the activity of CRISPRS in plants would be to use the GFP system.

[Text continued on page 66] PCTfUS2014/029566 — Here the s used for BFP—>GFP could be co—transformed into At er with G1155 and no GRON. If cutting were efficient enough, a ion in GFP expression could be apparent. This would likely require optimization of plasmid loading.

- Once ty is confirmed a genomic BFP target would be targeted with a visual and ce-based read—out.

] In Vitro assay - In order to rapidly confirm activity of a CRISPR system, an in vitro assay could be used as per Jinek et a] 2012. Here a pre-made and purified S.pyogenes Cas9 is incubated with synthesized gRNA and a plasmid containing the recognition sequence.

Successful cleavage is analysed by gel electrophoresis to look for out plasmids.

Detailed protocol: Plasmid DNA cleavage assay. Synthetic or in Vitro-transcribed trachNA and chNA were nealed prior to the reaction by heating to 95°C and slowly cooling down to room temperature. Native or restriction digest—linearized plasmid DNA (300 ng (~8 nM)) was incubated for 60 min at 37°C with purified Cas9 protein (50—500 nM) and trachNAzchNA duplex (50-500 nM, 1:1) in a Cas9 plasmid cleavage buffer (20 mM HEPES pH 7.5, 150 mM KCl, 0.5 mM DTT, 0.1 111M EDTA) with or without 10 mM MgC12. The reactions were stopped with 5X DNA loading buffer containing 250 mM EDTA, resolved by 0.8 or 1% e gel electrophoresis and visualized by ethidium bromide staining. For the Cas9 mutant cleavage assays, the reactions were stopped with 5X SDS loading buffer (30% glycerol, 1.2% SDS, 250 mM EDTA) prior to loading on the agarose gel.

Trait targets in Crops Given the flexibility of the CRISPR recognition sequence it is not difficult to find potential protospacer sequences as defined by a 3’ NGG PAM sequence.

ZmEPSPS The example below shows a suitable pacer sequence (yellow) and PAM (blue) in order to create a DS break in the catalytic site of ZmEPSPS where mutations at PCTfU82014/029566 the T97 and P101 are known to cause glyphosate tolerance. Subsequent oligo—mediated repair (ODM) of the break would result in the desired changes.

T AM R P L T V A A V act gca atg cgg cca ttg a, The table below gives the pacer sequences of genes of interest in crops of interest: agttactgctgct,. .. V V . gEPSPS 2—25 P101 éccgctgcagttactgctgca gEPSPS 2—28 P101 ccgctgcagttacagctgca A limitation of the design constraints is that it is often hard to find a NGG sequence within 12 bp of the nucleotide being altered by ODM. This is significant because if this was the case, successful ODM would mean that subsequent cutting would not be possible because the protospacer seed sequence would be altered. Jinek et a1. (2012) showed this was detrimental to cutting ency.

References LeCong et al 2013 Science : vol. 339 no. 6121 pp. 819—823.

Jinek et a] 2012 Science. 337:816—21 Wang et al 2008 RNA 14: 903—913 Zhang et a12013. Plant l. 161: 20~27 One skilled in the art readily appreciates that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objects and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those nt therein. The examples provided herein are entative of preferred embodiments, are exemplary, and are not intended as limitations on the scope of the invention.

PCT/USZOl4/029566 It will be readily apparent to a person skilled in the art that varying substitutions and modifications may be made to the invention disclosed herein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

] All patents and publications ned in the specification are indicative of the levels of those of ry skill in the art to which the invention pertains. All patents and publications are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication was specifically and individually ted to be incorporated by nce.

The invention illustratively described herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element or elements, limitation or limitations which is not specifically disclosed herein. Thus, for example, in each instance herein any of the terms ising”, “consisting essentially of” and “consisting of” may be replaced with either of the other two terms. The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention that in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed. Thus, it should be understood that although the present invention has been specifically sed by preferred embodiments and optional features, modification and variation of the concepts herein disclosed may be ed to by those skilled in the art, and that such modifications and variations are considered to be within the scope of this invention as defined by the ed claims.

Other embodiments are set forth within the following claims.

Claims (8)

1. A method for introducing a gene repair ucleobase (GRON)-mediated mutation into a target deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequence in a plant cell, comprising: delivery of a composition which induces single or double strand breaks and a GRON into the cell, n the GRON comprises one or more modifications selected from the group consisting of; a reverse base at the 3' end thereof; one or more 2'O-methyl nucleotides at the 3' end thereof; one or more 2'O-methyl RNA nucleotides at the 5' end thereof; a 5' us cap, and; one or more fluorescent dyes covalently attached thereto at the 5’ or 3’ end thereof; wherein the GRON is configured to mediate introduction of a targeted genetic change within the gene, and wherein delivery of the composition which induces single or double strand breaks and the GRON into the cell produces the targeted genetic change in the genome of the cell Without incorporation of the GRON into the genome such that the cell is non—transgenic with respect to the ed genetic change, and wherein the composition which induces single or double stranded breaks is selected from the group consisting of a bleomycin—type antibiotic and a meganuclease, wherein the meganuclease is designed to match the target DNA ce.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the GRON further comprises one or more of the ing characteristics; the GRON is greater than 55 bases in length, the GRON comprising two or more mutation sites for introduction into the target DNA; the GRON comprises one or more abasic nucleotides; the GRON comprises one or more 8'oxo dA and/or 8'oxo dG nucleotides; the GRON comprises one or more 2'O—methyl RNA nucleotides at the 5' end thereof; the GRON ses at least two ethyl RNA nucleotides at the 5' end thereof; the GRON comprises an intercalating dye; the GRON ses a backbone modification selected from the group consisting of a methyl phosphonate modification, a locked nucleic acid (LNA) modification, a O —(2—methoxyethyl) (MOE) modification, a di PS modification, and a e nucleic acid (PNA) modification; the GRON comprises one or more intrastrand inks; and the GRON comprises one or more bases which increase hybridization energy.

3. The method of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the method further ses synthesizing all or a portion of the GRON using nucleotide multimers.

4. The method of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the target deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequence is within the plant cell nuclear genome, the chloroplast genome or the mitochondrial genome.

5. The method of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the plant cell is a species selected from the group consisting of canola, sunflower, corn, tobacco, sugar beet, cotton, maize, wheat, barley, rice, alfafa, sorghum, , mango, peach, apple, pear, strawberry, banana, melon, potato, carrot, lettuce, onion, soy bean, soya spp, sugar cane, pea, chickpea, field pea, faba bean, lentils, turnip, rutabaga, brussel sprouts, lupin, cauliflower, kale, field beans, poplar, pine, eucalyptus, grape, citrus, triticale, alfalfa, rye, oats, turf and forage grasses, flax, oilseed rape, mustard, cucumber, morning glory, balsam, , eggplant, marigold, lotus, cabbage, daisy, carnation, tulip, iris, and lily.

6. The method of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the target DNA sequence is an endogenous gene of the plant cell.

7. The method of any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising regenerating a plant having a mutation uced by the GRON from the plant cell.

8. The method of claim 7, further sing collecting seeds from the plant.